Huta Katarzyna, Industrial heritage site in Sosnowiec, Poland
Huta Katarzyna was a steel plant in Sosnowiec that operated from 1881 until 2010, containing blast furnaces, rolling mills, and various production buildings. Adjacent to the factory stood a workers' settlement with residential buildings where families of plant employees lived.
Founded in 1881 when the region was under Russian rule, the plant was named after Empress Catherine II and grew into a major industrial facility over the following decades. By the early 1900s, it had become a significant employer and economic force in the area.
The name honors Empress Catherine II and reflects the Russian rule of the 1800s, a reminder of the region's complex past. Visitors can still see the workers' settlement, which shows how closely people's lives were tied to the factory.
The property was acquired by Quamiro in 2017 and underwent selective demolition while preserving certain historic structures. Visitors should know that the site today is a partially cleared industrial area where only specific factory buildings and the workers' settlement remain visible.
In 1905, the plant became the site of a major workers' conflict when Cossack troops confronted protesting employees, leaving many casualties. This event reveals the political tensions that ran through industrial areas during the period of Russian rule.
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