„Królowa Luiza”
Historic Coal Mine
The Coal Mining
Museum Department
Ul. Wolności 410
41-800 Zabrze, Poland
Tel. +48 (032) 370 11 27
Historic mine of 200 years` tradition
Steam hoist machine still in working order – unique in Europe
1,5 km long underground route
Working show of big mining machinery
Underground railway ride
General information
Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 14.00 h
Sunday: 11.00 h
On demand, tours can be arranged at different timings.
Visitors book their individual and group tours in advance at our Office, tel. +48 (032) 370 11 27.
In the underground section, there is the “Guibald” Inn, the traditional Silesian cuisine, tel. +48 (032) 370 17 77.
www.muzeumgornictwa.pl
Admissions
Regular – 10 PLN
Discount – 8 PLN
Guided tour (in Polish) – 30 PLN
You can visit either the Ground or Underground section of our Historic Coal Mine separately.
Museum is a member of the Polish Underground Tourist Routes Association.
Mine history
“Królowa Luiza” coal mine is one of the oldest in Upper Silesia, its beginning dating back to 1791. The geodesic survey made a year before brought about the discovery of coal deposits in Zabrze area. The establishment of the mine is related with the person of the mining official, Frederick William von Reden, an outstanding promoter of the Upper Silesian industry. As a result of his efforts and initiatives, many industrial plants were founded, including the Royal Iron Foundry of Gliwice, the main consumer of Zabrze coal. The mine, owned by the State Treasury, was named after king of Prussia’s wife. Those days, it was one of the biggest and most modern in Europe. The initial 120t output in 1791 reached 3.300.000t a century later. After World War II, the mine was renamed as “Zabrze”. In 1973, “Zabrze – Zachód” (Zabrze – West) mining area was closed down. Its buildings were entered in the Katowice province historic monuments register, as industrial and technological objects of special historic value nationwide. It was the Coal Mining Museum who started looking after them by establishing the “Królowa Luiza” Historic Coal Mine as its department.
Visiting the site
Our Historic Coal Mine consists of two sections:
The ground section
Around the old “Carnall” shaft, there are the machine room, shaft top and switching station. Visitors have the chance to see the shaft and signaling devices, cage suspension gears, shaft workshop, mine rescue station and 6kV switching station. The main attraction of the site, however, is the unique 2000ph steam hoist machine dated 1915. It used to operate above the 503m deep “Carnall” shaft. The machine has two cylinders of about 1m diameter either and a Koepe friction disk of 6m diameter. The additional equipment consists of a steam switching brake, a weight emergency brake, a self-writing tachometer dated 1915 and a depth indicator dated 1928. The machine pulled the cages at the speed of about 10m per second and steam pressure 12 – 8 atmospheres. A working demonstration of this huge engine brings visitors back to the romantic steam age, surrounded by the mist of time.
Another part of the ground section houses the Silesian Automobile Club Old Vehicles Museum.
The 25m high, steel shaft tower dominates the entire area.
The underground section
Situated around the former “Wyzwolenie” shaft, it covers the 19th century and modern excavations. The visitors go 35m underground and walk along the 1560m long drifts. The 19th century and modern excavations are localized at different levels and connected by inclined drifts. In this “underworld” we can follow the development of mining technology: from the 19th century shortwall pillars to the modern time machinery and equipment. A working demonstration of the huge machinery, including a coal planer, a cutter-loader and a heading machine, gives you an unforgettable impression. You can also get some acquaintance with various types of the lining, output haulage engines and mining cars. A massive steel lining crumpled by a mighty collapse reminds of the dangers of miners` work. An image of St Barbara, situated in an underground chapel, greets the leaving tourists.