The 727-metre-long railway tunnel shows just how distinct the different themes in Rydułtowy are: it is considered Poland’s oldest railway tunnel and the longest in Silesia. There are also geological observation sites, memorials and places to relax. If you are looking for a hotel in Rydułtowy, you can plan your stay around whichever theme interests you most: industrial heritage and memorial sites, geology or relaxation.
Railway Tunnel and Geological Features
The railway tunnel is closed to pedestrians, while rail traffic continues. Above the tunnel is the Ścieżka Powstań Śląskich. Its 50-metre route has three branches commemorating the Silesian Uprisings of 1919, 1920 and 1921. The tunnel and the path thus represent different aspects: the railway structure on one hand, and a memorial site connected to three specific years on the other.
Skałka is a key geological site. A walking route leads to this documentation site, which is legally protected as a site of geological interest. Skałka exposes Carboniferous sandstones of the paralic series. The outcrop is one of the few well-preserved examples of its kind in the Silesian Voivodeship and offers easy access for geological observation. A visit to Skałka is therefore quite different from exploring the tunnel’s industrial history: here, the focus is on the rock and its geological formation.
Church, Cross and Memorial Sites
The present-day Church of St George is a large Neo-Gothic building, consecrated in December 1896. Beside the church stands an atonement cross, described as Poland’s only two-barred atonement cross and the tallest in the Silesian Voivodeship. Its form is also known as a Bożogrobcy or Miechowici cross, or a Karawaka. The church and cross are a prominent point of reference for the history of the architecture and locality, while their distinct features should not be confused.
Other memorial sites commemorate different events and people. All official national, regional and local commemorations take place at the Monument to the Struggle and Victory. The Dembczyk Monument stands exactly where the insurgent Jerzy Dembczyk died. There is a memorial park in the Evangelical-Augsburg cemetery; its central monument is made from salvaged tombstones and other preserved remains. A memorial room is part of the Zabudowania KWK „Rydułtowy” complex and is housed in a historic, century-old building that once served as a small-goods weigh house.
The surviving parts of the workers’ colony also tell the story of local industry. The „Karol” or „Karola” colony is popularly known as „Karlik”. Several multi-storey brick familoki (workers’ houses) remain between Bema and Strzelców Bytomskich streets, north of the city centre. The different names and surviving buildings give this subject its own focus alongside the monuments and memorial sites.
Recreation and Leisure
The municipal graduation tower provides a salt-rich microclimate. Visitors can relax nearby on wooden loungers. A different use of the former mining site can be found at Shaft Leon III: a modern indoor shooting range for firearms operates in a former underground training gallery.
Rydułtowska Fikołkownia RAFA offers a BMX course, a skatepark and a climbing wall. Sports enthusiasts meet at Staw Machnikowiec for MTB competitions and cross-country runs; the pond is considered a suitable place to relax. Staw Zawalisko can be included in a car, cycling or walking tour of the most beautiful surroundings of Rydułtowy. The Rydułtowski Ośrodek Kulturalno-Oświatowy ROKO brings educational, artistic and recreational functions together in one place. Together, these places show that leisure in Rydułtowy takes many forms, from a break at the graduation tower to activities and excursions in the surrounding area.
Discover more destinations: Mszana, Borowa, Syrynia, Wodzisław Śląski, Radlin, Połomia, Pszów, Skrzyszów.
For the main travel overview: Wodzisław.
