Located in Zabrze, the Guido Mine is not only a place where you can go underground to a closed mine. This is a journey back in time to the early days of mining in the region, learning about its history, the work of the miners, the dangers that awaited them, but also the opportunity to see the mining machines that are still in operation!
Zabrze, located in Upper Silesia, is famous not only for its rich mining history, but also for its unique tourist attractions. One of them is the Guido Mine, a former coal mine that today is one of the most important tourist attractions in the entire region.
The mine is an example of a place that was once inextricably linked to the development of the region, was a modern place, provided jobs and was vibrant, and now undergoing revitalization serves tourist purposes (but more about that later in the post).
And as a tourist attraction, it just attracted us, although we delayed our visit because of the age restrictions for children (the easiest tour is available from the age of 6). Finally, however, the time came when we were able to move as far as 320 meters underground to see what secrets the former mine hides.
Table of contents
Guido mine tour
As in other places of this type, several tours are also available, both easier ones, where you can safely go with children from 6 years old, to more challenging ones, where you go in complete darkness. In total, more than 4 kilometers of trails are available.
Tours of the mine are only possible in a group with a guide; it is not possible to go down on your own. Tickets are purchased for a specific time and you must be on site at least 15 minutes before the tour’s start time. Each participant is equipped with a helmet and a flashlight before going down (there are, of course, helmets available in smaller sizes for children).
We recommend buying tickets online in advance, especially during high season. You can do it on this page and also there you can check how many seats are left for a given hour. The website describes the routes quite thoroughly, but it is especially worth noting the duration (the shortest is 2 hours and the longest is 3 hours), the length of the route, and the age restrictions (the easiest route is available for ages 6 and up).
Underground Mining Walk
Tour time: 2.5 hours
Route length: about 3 km
Minimum age: 6 years old
This is the least demanding route. It begins with an elevator (or, more precisely, shola) descent in a railroad shaft all the way down to a depth of 320 meters, making it the deepest tourist route in Poland as far as coal mining is concerned. During the tour, we will be accompanied in several places by Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck himself – his virtual image will tell the story of the mine. In addition, along the route there are scenes showing what the miners’ work looked like – you can look at what clothes they wore, how they were equipped and what they needed them for…. Canaries in cages! But you will find out about it during the trip, after all, we will not reveal everything in this post ;)
What else awaits us along the route? We learned a lot about how miners’ work has changed with the development of tools and technology. These ranged from the most simple tools, which required a great deal of strength and effort, to newer, huge machines like harvesters and long belts that transport the excavated material. What is particularly noteworthy, however, is that you can see them running during the tour! Admittedly, they don’t drill corridors or extract coal, but they give an idea of what it was like to work in a mine when muscle power began to be replaced by machines.
A unique attraction at this mine is an overhead train ride! Why is there such a queue underground? Well, as it was explained to us, in mines it is easier to install such a railroad that hangs because, among other things.
it does not require a flat surface and level tracks. Of course, such trains traveled (and in other mines still travel) by miners.
Is it an easy route? Relatively yes, although you have to take into account that, however, you walk deep underground, there are stairs to climb, but not many of them.
Darkness of the Mine
Tour time: 2.5 hours
Route length: about 1.5 km
Minimum age: 10 years old
We had the opportunity to walk a short distance along this route, and we have to admit that this is just an adventure! Walking in total darkness and silence, viewing the old machines and installations as they were left is on the one hand a fascinating experience, and on the other hand a bit scary. It will be a good choice for those who are not afraid of the dark and want to feel, at least for a moment, like miners who, having their headlamp as the only source of light, traverse the dark corridors of the mine.
The tour also includes personal items and letters of the miners.
The route begins at level 355, which is even lower than the Underground Mining Walk.
Underground Shychta
Tour time: 3 hours
Route length: about 1.5 km
Minimum age: 18 years old
Shychta is one working shift in a mine, which means that on this tour you will go underground to work. Sound tough? That’s exactly what it will be, although you will only go down for 3 hours of work!
This is the only route in the Guido mine during which you receive special clothing and equipment, and then descend, as in the Darkness of the Mine route, as high as 355 meters. However, it will not just be a walk in the dark. During your shift you will have tasks to perform, and not just any tasks, because they require strength and extraordinary cooperation. As the facility assures, up to 2,500 calories are burned during this tour!
Unusual pub
However, the undergrounds of the Guido mine hide much more! You may be surprised to learn that there is a pub and a conference center at a depth of 320 meters! A training, corporate event or concert in the mining chambers must be something!
And if you get hungry, you can relax here at the end of the tour in a specially prepared space and enjoy a Guido beer.
Carboneum
As a complement to the knowledge, we recommend a visit to the Carboneum. This is an interactive exhibition about coal, located in a former water tower.
Upstairs, in one space, an interactive exhibition has been prepared to educate about the element carbon: from its origin in the cosmos, through its occurrence, use, properties, to interesting experiments. The topic is not simple, and the exhibition is for older children and adults rather than toddlers.
Note, at the end you will face a test on what you have learned ;)
The tower is worth a look for one more reason: at the top, views await that allow you to look at the area from above.
History of the Guido Coal Mine
The Guido mine was founded in 1855. Its name comes from the mine’s owner Count Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck, who was just 25 years old when he received the mining grant. It was a private mine, but the owner himself admitted years later that it was not the most successful investment. Initially promising quite well, the mine was not profitable enough, the state mine was much more prosperous, so Guido was sold to the state and incorporated into the “Luiza Mine”, and in 1912 was merged with the “Delbrück” mine. A dozen years later, the mine lost its importance due to the depletion of coal deposits, and the Guido and Railway shafts were shut down or their operations were limited to lowering materials and transporting miners.
The key action that saved the site from oblivion was the establishment of the M-300 Experimental Mine to test new mining machinery and equipment, and subsequent steps helped create a site accessible to tourists. A kind of open-air museum was created with machines that remain underground to this day. Pulling them out is unprofitable so they were used for training purposes and now for tourism.
Today it is one of the biggest attractions in the region!
The other very popular one is the Queen Louise Adit, also located in Zabrze.
Practical information
Below we have prepared practical information to help you better plan your stay at Guido Mine.
Worth knowing
When booking a tour, it is necessary to read in detail about the length, tour time and contraindications.
All this information is available on the mine’s website.
It is mandatory to buy tickets in advance or book them, for a specific time.
It’s cool down there, so it’s worth taking a sweatshirt or sweater with you even in summer.
The site is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Tours are conducted only in groups, with a guide.
There is no cellular network coverage down there – we recommend turning on airplane mode so the phone doesn’t waste a lot of battery searching for networks.
Access and parking
Address:
Guido Mine
ul. 3 Maja 9
41-800 Zabrze
You will find the entrance without any problem, just look out for the tall shaft tower (Railway Shaft), this is where you go underground. However, before you head down in the elevator, it is necessary to go to the building next door to pick up a helmet, flashlight and, together with your guide, head to the underground.
There is free car parking on site.
Close to the mine is a public transport stop: Guido Historic Mine, and you can get here by bus lines 7, 23, 47 111, 198 or 199, as well as by streetcar number 3.
Price list – Guido mine
Prices vary depending on the route, and we have prepared an abbreviated price list below, current at the time of writing this post (2024 season).
A discounted ticket is available for children and young people studying up to the age of 26, as well as pensioners. Family ticket – valid only on Thursdays, price per person, with a group of a minimum of 3 people, of which a maximum of two are adults. There is a 20% discount with the Large Family Card.
Underground Mining Walk:
Normal ticket – 65 zł
Discounted ticket – 50 PLN
Family ticket – 50 PLN
Darkness of the Mine:
Normal ticket – 65 zł
Underground Shychta:
Normal ticket – 120 PLN
Before buying, we recommend looking at current promotions, as you can hunt down additional discounts and your entry will come out a little cheaper.
Accommodation in the area
Where to stay overnight in the area? We spent the night in Zabrze at the Ibis hotel, and below we have prepared for you a list of several facilities with good reviews in the area:
After an eventful day, you are sure to be tired and hungry. If you want to eat well, we especially recommend these two restaurants:
Waiters in the Tower – The restaurant is located in a former water tower. In addition to an interesting menu and an original approach to traditional dishes, it offers very pleasing to the eye views of the entire area. Address: ul. Jana Zamoyskiego 2, 41-800 Zabrze
Naleśnikarnia Kamienica – A restaurant serving both dry and salty pancakes and pancakes. We especially recommend seasonal pancakes. Address: Wolności 360, 41-800 Zabrze
Our opinion – is Guido coal mine worth visiting?
We like to visit such places because it is not only a mine of knowledge about coal mining and the work of miners, but also to learn about the region and how it was shaped just by the industry.
Guido Mine is a unique place where you can see real mining machines in action! With this, one can imagine what it was like to work in dust and constant noise.
You have to admit, a person gains even more respect for the work of miners after visiting here!
Photo Gallery
We also recommend a photo gallery of our visit to the Guido mine.
...prefers a quiet, lazy vacation, but does not miss the opportunity to see something interesting and bravely keeps pace with Kamila. Contrary to appearances, he also loves active leisure :) He is responsible for the organizational and practical part of the trip, i.e. he makes sure that we get to the ... More about us >>
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