Łopuka - spoil heap from an iron ore adit (18th-19th century)

The Łopuka in Cisownica is a mound of earth left over from former iron ore extraction. Until mining ended in 1870, adits were dug in the area in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Where the łopuki came from

In Cisownica, poor iron ore, siderite, was extracted in primitive adits. The ore was carted to the ironworks in nearby Ustroń, and later in Třinec. The earth taken out of the adits was sieved to recover the ore, and the waste was heaped into mounds called łopuki. Most of the shafts are filled in today, and it is the łopuki that are the most visible trace of this mining.

How many there are

In Cisownica there are a dozen or so such mounds. One of the largest lies on the western slope of Cis hill, and others are found in mining fields called Wędoły and Pasieki. The fields had old names, including Josefine, Simon und Juda, Rosalia, Georg and Emanuel. Nearby lies Ustroń, with the Ustroń Museum, which tells the story of the region.

Practical information

• Location: Cisownica, Cieszyn County.
• This is a trace in the landscape, not a site developed for visitors; check the exact place and how to reach it before setting out.