Silesia hides treasures not only beneath ground level! The wealth of the region lies in its entire industrial heritage, which stretches across both sides of the Polish-Czech border. In the latest episode of our podcast “On The Road,” Katarzyna Jagodzińska and John Beauchamp embark on a post-industrial industrial journey between Zabrze, Ostrava, and Świętochłowice, listening to cultural echoes of the former industrial plants, many of which have closed in recent decades. While some factories have been demolished, others have stood the test of time and have taken on new functions.
These buildings have been adapted for entirely new roles, such as museums, art galleries, restaurants, cafés, hotels, and offices for various companies. Often, this required not only changes to meet contemporary needs and possibilities but also significant effort to preserve their authenticity. For most of these sites, adaptation has been their only chance for survival. How can we best protect and manage industrial heritage?
In the episode “Redefining Industrial Heritage in Silesia,” we will hear not only about the cultural richness of the region and its potential for adaptation but also discover that Silesia is more than just coal!
In this episode we visit:
Zinc Rolling Mill in Świętochłowice, Poland (owned and managed by the Foundation for the Protection of Silesian Industrial Heritage, represented by Dr Piotr Gerber, Heritage Champion awarded in 2024)
Queen Louise Adit and Guido Mine at the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, Poland (European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Grand Prix award winner in 2019)
Dolní Oblast Vítkovice complex in Ostrava, Czechia
PLATO Contemporary Art Gallery in Ostrava, Czechia
Landek Park Mining Museum in Ostrava, Czechia
