Was It Worth Visiting a Blast Furnace in Upper Silesia? – Urbex Travel’s Story
Urbex in Upper Silesia has always been on our dream list, and when we finally got the chance to step inside one of its monumental blast furnaces, the excitement was overwhelming. These towering industrial giants, once roaring with fire and steel, are now silent reminders of Poland’s rich industrial past. Unlike many urban exploration trips that involve sneaking around fences and risking safety, this was a permission-based visit – which meant we could fully immerse ourselves in the site without fear, and with plenty of time to explore every corner. Walking through the labyrinth of steel structures and endless staircases, we felt both humbled and amazed. With my GoPro, I captured the furnace’s raw scale in motion, while my husband focused on photography, freezing moments of rust, textures, and light into stunning stills. Together, we tried to preserve the atmosphere of a place that once shaped entire communities. For us, the visit was not only about exploration, but also about respect for history. Standing in the heart of this abandoned colossus, we realized it was absolutely worth the journey. This was more than just an urbex trip – it was a step into the industrial soul of Silesia, and a memory we’ll carry forever.
What’s Hidden Inside a Blast Furnace? – Urbex Travel’s Permission Visit in Poland
Urbex travel brought us to the hulking structure of the Blast Furnace in Ruda Śląska, a silent giant dominating the skyline in the district of Nowy Bytom. This monumental blast furnace, once part of Huta Pokój which was founded in 1840, stands more than 40 meters tall and is one of the most recognizable industrial heritage sites in Upper Silesia. Inside, you’ll discover rusted steel framing, corroded pipes, vast empty chambers, and the echoes of a once booming steelworks. The place feels frozen in time: every girder, every platform, every stairway tells stories of fire, sweat, innovation—such as when the first cold-rollers and Sendzimir cold-rolling mill were introduced here in the 1930s. Our permission visit allowed us to move freely throughout, to capture the textures and interplay of light through broken windows, and to safely explore spaces most visitors never see. The furnace is not only an abandoned ruin: it’s a symbol of Polish industrial strength, memory and artistry in decay. For us, urbex and industrial ruins exploration are all about revealing these hidden layers—and at Huta Pokój, we found more than we expected.
Was This Urbex Trip Worth It? – Exploring a Silesian Blast Furnace
Every urbex trip brings something new, but stepping inside the blast furnace in Upper Silesia was a completely different experience. After visiting the iconic Szombierki Power Plant in Bytom and exploring the impressive Mikołaj Shaft, we thought we had already seen the best of Silesian industrial heritage. Yet the blast furnace showed us another face of this region’s past: massive, raw, and awe-inspiring. This permission visit gave us time to carefully explore the maze of catwalks, steel beams, and enormous chambers where iron was once melted and shaped. Unlike the brick architecture of Szombierki or the towering headframe of Mikołaj Shaft, here we felt immersed in the sheer scale of heavy industry. The atmosphere was overwhelming—echoes of machinery, shafts of light through rusted windows, and the silence of a place that once roared with fire. For us, urbex is about more than adventure: it’s about connecting these forgotten giants into a bigger story of Polish industrial history. Together, the Szombierki Power Plant, the Mikołaj Shaft, and now the blast furnace form a trilogy of explorations that prove just how rich and diverse Silesian heritage is. Was it worth it? Absolutely—this urbex journey was unforgettable.
Should You Visit an Abandoned Blast Furnace? – Urbex Travel’s Experience in Poland
If you’re wondering whether exploring an abandoned blast furnace in Poland is worth it, our answer is simple: yes, absolutely. This urbex trip was one of the most memorable experiences we’ve had in Upper Silesia. Thanks to a permission visit, we could safely wander through the towering structures, explore hidden chambers, and take the time to capture both video and photography without any rush. The contrast of rust, steel, and silence created an atmosphere that can’t be described in words alone—it has to be seen and felt. While every urbex location is unique, the blast furnace stood out as a place where history, scale, and atmosphere all come together. We are thrilled to share this adventure with you through our GoPro movie and my husband’s photography. Together, they tell the story of a forgotten industrial giant and the legacy it left behind in Silesia. If you’ve ever been curious about what lies inside these massive structures, we invite you to scroll down, watch the video, and enjoy the photos below. This way, you can step into the furnace with us—and experience urbex travel in Poland through our eyes.
