The provincial government announced that the Metallurgy Museum in Chorzów and the Library Station in Ruda Śląska-Chebzie have joined the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesian Voivodeship. Both objects, like many other facilities on the trail, gained a new life thanks to funds from the European Union.
The railway station in Ruda Śląska-Chebzie, where the Library Station is located, was part of the Industrial Monuments Route from the very beginning of its operation, i.e. from 2006, but due to its poor technical condition and lack of cultural and tourist offer, it was removed from the list in 2010.
“In recent years, the authorities of Ruda Śląska took over the station area from the Polish State Railways. Thanks to the funds obtained, among others, from the Regional Operational Programme for the Silesian Voivodeship. They modernized it and gave it a second life by establishing the Library Station on its premises, thanks to which the revitalized railway station is now used by the inhabitants of Chebzie as a book rental and a place to organize cultural events”.
says Jakub Chełstowski, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship.
Also thanks to the support of EU funds, on November 27, 2021, the Metallurgy Museum began operating in the buildings of the former power plant of Huta Królewska. It was one of the first steam-powered steelworks on the European continent. Its blast furnace was the largest in Europe at the time. The old equipment of the steelwork can be seen by everyone in the newly revived facility in Chorzów. The Metallurgy Museum in Chorzów is a local government cultural institution.
“I am glad that another technical monument in Chorzów belongs to the most interesting route of industrial tourism in Poland. Especially since it is the only museum on the Route, as well as in Poland, dedicated to the rich history of the iron and steel industry, which is so important for our region”.
he adds.
Established in 2006, the Industrial Monuments Route consists of objects of industrial heritage of Silesia, combined into one regional cooperation network. Thanks to the initiative taken by the Silesian Voivodeship, a tourist and cultural trail was created, which is not only a promotion tool, but also an element of conscious management of the region’s development values.
From the beginning of its operation, the Industrial Monuments Route consisted of 29 objects.
In 16 years, 17 objects have joined the network and six have been excluded.
From January 1, 2023, this number has increased again and the trail will consist of as many as 42 objects.