Podziemia Będzińskie
Underground route in an unfinished German air-raid shelter beneath Castle Hill (Wzgórze Zamkowe); guided tours by telephone booking.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Podziemia Będzińskie (Będzin Underground) is a system of concrete corridors dug into the slope of Castle Hill. For many years it was shrouded in mystery, until photographs found in the State Archive in Katowice showed that it was an unfinished air-raid shelter. The Germans occupying the town began digging it in 1943–1944, fearing air raids on the industrial plants of the Zagłębie region, and according to studies, concentration camp prisoners worked on its construction.
Work was stopped in January 1945, when the front collapsed and the Red Army entered Będzin; the shelter was never completed. Because of a shortage of steel, the corridors were reinforced with concrete only. The tourist route opened on 13 December 2013 and runs for about 400 of the complex’s roughly 700 metres. The underground maintains a constant temperature of about 9–12 °C.
In 2018 the exhibition “Tropiciele Historii Podziemi Będzińskich” (Explorers of the History of the Będzin Underground) was set up here, devoted to the earlier history of Będzin and the German occupation. Admission was free until the end of 2019; from 2020 visits have been paid and take place with a guide. The entrance is on Kołłątaja Avenue, near the Holy Trinity Church. The underground belongs to the Muzeum Zagłębia w Będzinie (Zagłębie Museum in Będzin).
Highlights
- Corridors of the unfinished German shelter from 1943–1944
- Route of about 400 metres in Castle Hill
- Exhibition “Tropiciele Historii Podziemi Będzińskich” (Explorers of the History of the Będzin Underground)
- Guided tours
Permanent exhibition
- Tropiciele Historii Podziemi Będzińskich – Exhibition in the shelter corridors on the early history of Będzin and on the German occupation during the Second World War.
- Founded
- 2013
- Operated by
- Muzeum Zagłębia w Będzinie
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 10 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 8 zł |
The ticket price includes the guided tour. Prices according to information from the city council (BIP, the public information bulletin); it is worth confirming them by telephone before the visit.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours are with a guide only, by telephone booking. The temperature underground is about 9–12 °C, so warm clothing is recommended. |
