Zabrze, Industrial city in Upper Silesia, Poland
Zabrze lies along the Bytomka River and spreads over fifteen districts where brick architecture stands beside contemporary housing blocks. Parks and green areas break up the urban fabric and offer space for walks between the old industrial sites.
A first mention of the place appears in the year 1242 in the Biskupice district before the region turned to coal extraction in the 18th century. Mining shaped development over two centuries and drew workers from across Europe.
The city takes its name from the Slavic word for animal jaw and still shows a mix of Polish and Silesian tradition. Local groups keep old miner songs and crafts alive, which visitors can experience at town festivals and in small workshops.
Some former mines offer guided visits where you can go underground and learn more about the daily life of miners. Streets are well signposted and most points of interest can be reached on foot or by local public transport.
Beneath the streets run hundreds of kilometers of old tunnels, some of which remain accessible today and give insight into the underground world. Some houses in the center still carry traces of old industrial architecture with cast iron facade elements.
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