Rydułtowy: Geology, Industrial Heritage and Special Places

Discover Geology and Ponds

Skałka is legally protected as a geological documentation site. The exposure reveals Carboniferous sandstones of the paralic series and is one of the few well-preserved exposures of this kind in the Silesian Voivodeship. A walking route leads to the documentation site, and the access provides favourable conditions for observation. This excursion is therefore particularly suited to anyone interested in rocks and geological processes.

The ponds also offer a variety of experiences. Staw Zawalisko can be included in a car, cycling or walking tour through the most scenic surroundings of Rydułtowy. Sports enthusiasts meet at Staw Machnikowiec for MTB competitions and cross-country races; the pond is also considered a suitable place to relax. When planning, you can choose between a cycling tour, a walk and a car trip, while Machnikowiec caters both to sporting events and relaxation.

Exercise and Leisure

Rydułtowska Fikołkownia RAFA offers a BMX track, a skatepark and a climbing wall. Each of these three facilities focuses on a different kind of activity. The Rydułtowski Ośrodek Kulturalno-Oświatowy ROKO brings educational, artistic and recreational functions together in one place. The activities described therefore range from sports to a variety of cultural and educational interests.

Railway Tunnel and Silesian History

The railway tunnel is considered the oldest railway tunnel in Poland and the longest in Silesia; it is 727 metres long. The tunnel is closed to pedestrians. Above it lies Ścieżka Powstań Śląskich: a 50-metre-long route with three wings commemorating the Silesian uprisings of 1919, 1920 and 1921. The stated lengths of the tunnel and the route refer to two different structures. Another monument commemorates the insurgent Jerzy Dembczyk: it stands exactly where he died.

Several multi-storey brick familoki buildings have been preserved from the workers’ colony “Karol” or “Karola”, popularly known as “Karlik”. They are located between Bema and Strzelców Bytomskich streets, north of the city centre. The Zabudowania KWK “Rydułtowy” complex includes a memorial room in a historic, century-old building that once housed a small-goods weighbridge. Both places give concrete form to the history of industry and the working class.

Church and Places of Remembrance

The present-day Church of Saint George is a large Neo-Gothic building consecrated in December 1896. Beside the church stands a penitential cross, considered Poland’s only double-barred penitential cross and the tallest penitential cross in the Silesian Voivodeship. Its form is also known as a Bożogrobcy or Miechowites cross, or a Karawaka.

The memorial sites also highlight different aspects of history. All official state, regional and local commemorations are held at the Monument to Struggle and Victory. The Evangelical-Augsburg cemetery contains a memorial park. Its central monument is made from salvaged tombstones and other preserved remains.

Choose the Right Focus

When choosing your holiday apartment, you can first consider which themes you want to shape your trip: geological observations and ponds, physical activity, or industrial and commemorative history.

If you would like to explore more pages about local destinations, you can also find Radlin, Borowa, Mszana, Wodzisław Śląski, Pszów, Skrzyszów, Połomia and Syrynia here.

For the broader travel overview: Wodzisław.