Olkusz can be explored through several themes: mining history in the Old Town, sacred art and museums, and trails and activities in Silver Park. When planning a stay, you can organize these highlights according to what interests you most. The historic sites tell different parts of the city’s story, while the park also explores nature and activities.
Old Town and Mining History
The “Srebrny szlak gwarków olkuskich” is an educational and historical trail in the Old Town of Olkusz. Figures of miners stand at 18 locations. Each tells a different story through its own attributes, relating to an aspect of the city’s history or a local legend. The trail therefore connects several stories rather than focusing on a single historical theme.
An exhibition offers another perspective on the past: “Podziemny Olkusz” is located in accessible cellars beneath the former 14th-century town hall in the Market Square. It presents the history of Olkusz and its tradition of silver and lead mining, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The historical trail presents themes through figures at various locations in the Old Town; the exhibition explores the city’s history and mining heritage in the cellars of the former town hall. This gives you two different ways to explore the city’s history as you plan your visit.
Basilica and Museums
The Gothic Minor Basilica of St. Andrew the Apostle was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its Gothic polyptych dates from the late 15th century and is one of only four altars of this kind in Poland. These two details point to different historical periods: the church’s construction and the later dating of a notable altar. Those interested in sacred architecture and art history will find a distinct theme to explore in Olkusz.
The museums also focus on different themes. The Museum of the Artistic Work of Władysław Wołkowski is housed in the historic 19th-century Machnicki Manor House. Here, the artist’s name and a historic building come together. The Africanist Museum was founded in 1971 and collects exhibits relating to the everyday lives of communities in West and Central Africa. Its subject differs from local mining and urban history, offering another cultural perspective.
Educational Trails and Activities in Silver Park
Silver Park has educational trails with information boards about the history of mining and the park’s vegetation. This means mining also features beyond the Old Town, while the boards also cover the park’s plant life. The park additionally offers opportunities for inline skating and cycling, as well as an area for bicycle trials and parkour. Use of these facilities is subject to their terms and conditions.
The themes are clearly distinct: the educational trails focus on information and park vegetation, while the activities mentioned offer a different emphasis.
Planning Your Stay in Olkusz
When searching for hotels in Olkusz, you can first consider which focus you want your stay to have: the Old Town and mining history, the basilica and museums, or activities in Silver Park. The different themes can help you choose what to visit and decide how you would like to spend your time in Olkusz. Discover more destinations: Klucze, Małobądz, Golczowice, Zabagnie, Jeżówka, Dłużec, Wolbrom, Zawada.
Return to the main travel overview: Olkusz.
