Walcownia - Muzeum Hutnictwa Cynku
Museum in the historic zinc rolling mill from 1904 in Szopienice, with the original production line, steam engines, motorcycles and engines.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Construction of the zinc rolling mill began in 1903 as part of the investment of the Georg von Giesches Erben concern in Szopienice, next to the Bernhardi smelter (Huta Bernhardi). Production of zinc sheets began in 1904, and in 1916–1917 the hall was extended and an administrative and social building was added. Production was based throughout on the original early 20th-century equipment and ended in 2002, when the smelter decided to close it.
The building was entered in the register of monuments in 2010, and the rolling equipment earlier, in 2003. After 2013 the facility was bought by an owner linked to the Silesian Foundation for the Protection of Industrial Heritage (Fundacja Ochrony Dziedzictwa Przemysłowego Śląska), which renovated the roof and windows while keeping as much of the original appearance of the interior as possible. The Zinc Smelting Museum (Muzeum Hutnictwa Cynku) opened on 11 June 2015, and since 2017 the rolling mill has belonged to the Silesian Voivodeship Route of Technical Monuments.
The heart of the museum is a complete technological line for producing zinc sheet: furnaces, a casting carousel, rolling mills and shears, and a hall with four steam engines of 250 hp each. Some of the machines were restored by former employees of the plant and are shown in operation at weekends and on selected holidays. The collections of motorcycles, including more than 20 Harley-Davidson machines from 1923–1986, and of historic stationary engines complement the display.
Highlights
- Original technological line for rolling zinc sheet from 1904
- Hall with four steam engines of 250 hp each
- More than 20 Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 1923–1986
- One of the largest collections of historic stationary engines in Poland
- Guided tours, and on weekends machines in operation
Permanent exhibitions
- Historia hutnictwa metali nieżelaznych – Preserved production line for zinc sheet with rolling mills, shears and the steam engine hall.
- Motocykle Harley-Davidson – Collection of historic motorcycles, including more than 20 Harley-Davidson models from 1923–1986, as well as Indian, Sokół and Junak machines.
- Silniki stacjonarne – Several dozen historic engines from the 19th and 20th centuries, collected by the Dutch collector Jakob Pepping.
- Founded
- 2015
- Operated by
- Fundacja Ochrony Dziedzictwa Przemysłowego Śląska
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 40 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 30 złchildren and pupils aged 3 to 18 |
| Children & teens | 30 złfree up to age 2 · Children up to age 3 enter free of charge. |
| Families | 120 złThe family ticket covers 2 adults and 2 children. |
| Guided tour in English (whole group) | 100 złAn additional PLN 100 for every further 10 people; advance booking required. |
Tickets are sold only at the museum’s ticket office, which accepts cash and cards. The guided tour is included in the ticket price. Bookings for organised groups: walcownia@muzeatechniki.pl.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Szopienice Roździeńska
Trams T14 and T15 go directly to the Szopienice Roździeńska stop. The museum is a 15-minute walk from the Zawodzie interchange (Centrum Przesiadkowe Zawodzie).
By car
Free parking
Free car park for over 50 cars; for cyclists there are racks under camera surveillance.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The guided tour lasts 60–90 minutes at weekends and on selected holidays, and up to 60 minutes from Wednesday to Friday. For organised groups it is possible at other times too, after prior booking. Dogs on a leash may enter the museum. The museum runs lessons and workshops for primary schools. |
Museums nearby
Izba Tradycji Hutniczych w Szopienicach
Muzeum Historii Katowic – Dział Etnologii Miasta
Muzeum Domu Macierzystego Zgromadzenia Sióstr Karmelitanek Dzieciątka Jezus
Muzeum Śląskie w Katowicach
