#10 To save the heritage

At the end of the 16th century, Tarnowskie Góry was the biggest ore mining center in Upper Silesia. Increasing extraction has been accompanied by a serious groundwater discharge problem. When the Royal Prussian Lead and Silver Ore Mine "Frederick" was opened in 1784, the first steam engine in the region was put into use to dewater the mine workings. In a short time, their number grew to eight. However, this did not solve the problem. Therefore, the decision to return to traditional drainage methods was made. In 1807 the God Help Adit was built, and a bit later (in 1834) the Frederick Deep Adit was completed, whose task was to drain underground water to the Drama River. In 2008, the final section of the adit collapsed. There was a construction disaster and a serious groundwater runoff problem. The Black Trout Adit stopped operating for a short time. The Society of Friends of Tarnowskie Góry region has cleared the debris with its own efforts. However, this was a temporary solution. With the help of our institution, the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, in 2017 we managed to obtain EU funding for the implementation of the project entitled "Preservation of the cultural heritage of the historic Frederick Adit in Tarnowskie Góry by securing the rock mass and modernizing water management". The task was complicated because the exit of the adit is located in a hard-to-reach place. We built a process route and a river crossing. We then got into the structure from the top by excavating a wide-space trench down to the bottom of the adit. We restored the historic stone enclosure on a new reinforced concrete structure. For the duration of the works, water from the adit outlet, was discharged through a parallel channel. Additionally, we restored the Miners’ Gate, which is the portal of the adit mouth.

It was quite a challenge to complete this project. From the very beginning it was necessary to ensure that the tourist traffic in the Black Trout Adit could take place without any obstacles. The works were conducted in a NATURA 2000 area, and the adit itself is a wintering site for bats. It was also not easy to obtain suitable building material for the restoration of the Miners’ Gate. However, thanks to the museum's commitment, everything went smoothly.

I first visited the silver mine when I was still in elementary school, then in high school. As an adult, I have been inviting friends and out-of-town guests to visit the undergrounds of Tarnowskie Góry, and finally the time has come to show them to my children. Out of all Silesian mining traditions, the history of silver ore extracted by miners knows as “Gwarkowie” is absolutely unique for me. It is what defines my city and creates its identity. Because of this, I couldn't imagine the plot of my book taking place anywhere else. I like it when the plot is based on real places, when characters walk real streets and boulevards, pass real buildings, the same ones I can see, too. Every beautiful city has its heroes. So the time has come for Tarnowskie Góry. My book tells the story of four young people from Tarnowskie Góry who, while walking near the Black Trout Adit, meet Rudek, a creature that lives underground. Rudek gives them supernatural powers that the young men must use to save the city and its underworld. The book has a happy ending...much like the story of the Frederick Adit. It is remarkable that to this day it still watches over the proper course of groundwater. I am glad that the adit has been cleared. I'm especially happy about the restoration of the Miners’ Gate. Finally it’s easy to get there! Before, you had to wade through bushes, which sometimes made me get lost. Now this problem is gone, and I like checking this place from time to time when I go for a walk.

I am full of admiration for the work that The Society of Friends of Tarnowskie Góry region does for the city and its heritage. I know that thanks to their efforts Tarnowskie Góry will be talked about more than once. If anyone thinks that a UNESCO listing is the pinnacle of the city's possibilities, they are mistaken.

I myself have a modest, perhaps somewhat selfish dream. I would like my book to attract more tourists to the undergrounds of Tarnowskie Góry. Let this be my little contribution.