Zabytkowy Zakład Hutniczy w Maleńcu

The Zabytkowy Zakład Hutniczy w Maleńcu is a steel mill from the 18th and 19th centuries with two production halls, a hydropower system, and historical machinery. The complex displays the full infrastructure of a working industry from about 200 years ago.

The facility was founded in 1784 under castellan Jacek Jezierski and started as an iron ore mining site during Poland's industrial expansion. It operated continuously until 1967, serving as a major metalworking center for nearly two centuries.

The site carries the name of its home village and reflects the region's deep roots in metalworking craftsmanship. Visitors can observe how workers moved through the production spaces and how closely human labor and machinery were intertwined in daily operations.

The site is best visited during daylight hours when natural light illuminates the halls and machinery clearly. Walking through the complex requires basic fitness as the ground is uneven and there are stairs to reach upper areas.

The site holds Poland's largest wooden water wheel at 5.5 meters in diameter, an engineering feat from an era without modern motors. A massive flywheel, locally known as the Madman of Maleniec, was responsible for keeping the production machinery rotating at steady speeds.