Wielki Piec
Wielki Piec is a large blast furnace and museum in Starachowice that displays the iron production process and machinery from the region's industrial past. The site features the main furnace tower, steam engines, foundry halls, and railway infrastructure that show how the operation worked.
The furnace was built in 1899 and marked a turning point in the region's metal industry by introducing modern coke technology. It operated until 1968 and served various industrial and wartime purposes during its active decades.
The site is located near the train station and is easily accessible by train or car, with free parking near the entrance. Guided tours run regularly and last about an hour and a half in summer or an hour in winter.
The massive steam engine on the grounds is one of the largest of its kind worldwide and demonstrates the mechanical force that powered the entire operation. Visiting the Szlakowisko mound, a heap of leftover materials from furnace operations, offers a revealing perspective on industrial waste management from that era.
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