The silver town of Olkusz

Address:

32-300 Olkusz, Rynek 1

GPS:

50° 16' 44.8428" N 19° 33' 35.5968" E

Olkusz is historically famous for its mining exploitation. It has gained the nickname "Silver Town” due to the mining of silver and lead. In the 15th century the city was surrounded by a fortified wall over 1100 metres long and with 14 towers. Up to this day there are well-preserved ruins of the wall and tower which can be viewed by tourists.

At the time of its greatness, the city had 300 active mines of lead ores. In the 16^th century a royal mint was opened in Olkusz.

At the end of the 17th century, plagues of diseases, conflagration, and the Swedish invasion destroyed the economic well-being of the town – the mines ceased exploitation. The mining traditions revived only in the 19^th century, and the postwar period was defined as the period of the most rapid development (the railway connecting Sławków with Olkusz, Hrubieszów, Moscow and Magnitogorsk was built and the largest enamel pots factory "Emalia" was modernised).

The townhouses located around the main market are the landmark of Olkusz. In the oldest one called “Batorówka” from the 17^th century there is the Antoni Minkiewicz’s Regional Museum PTTK (Polish Tourist Society). The museum contains collections in the field of ethnography, numismatics, mining and history. The most interesting exhibits include the old mining tools, the minerals extracted from the Olkusz land, part of the municipal book from the 17th century, and municipal coats of arms and seals. In total, the museum displays 212 exhibits.