Winding Tower of Shaft I of the Polska Mine

The winding tower of Shaft I of the former Polska mine stands on Wojska Polskiego Street in Świętochłowice. It is a metal structure from 1908, entered in the heritage register in 2004.

The Polska mine

The mine was established on 24 October 1873 from the merger of several mining fields, and its owner was Baron Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck. Until 1922 it was called Deutschland, in 1922-1937 Niemcy, and from 3 May 1937 Polska. In 1972 it was merged with the Prezydent mine in Chorzów. Closure was decided in 1996 and completed in 2000.

The towers of Shafts I and II

Two winding towers survive on the mine grounds, both metal: that of Shaft I from 1908 and that of Shaft II from 1889-1891, standing a few dozen metres apart. They have been renovated, and the tower of Shaft I is open to visitors. The former mine grounds now house a police headquarters, so access depends on the rules in force on site.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Wojska Polskiego 16, Świętochłowice.
• Check the rules for entering the tower with the site manager before a visit.
• Nearby lies the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park.