Gwarek Bell Tower

The Gwarków Bell Tower in Tarnowskie Góry is a contemporary replica of a 19th-century wooden mining belfry, entered into the register of monuments of the Silesian Voivodeship, with a presumed 16th-century origin. Originally, it stood near the washing dump of the "Fryderyk" Royal Mine in Bobrowniki. After the mine was closed, the bell tower was relocated to the area of the "Blachówka" dolomite mine, where it stood near the embankment of a narrow-gauge railway until 1955. After the original bell was stolen during World War II, the residents of Górnik decided to hang a new cast steel bell. In 1954, an inventory of the structure was initiated, and in 1955 the bell tower was moved to Tarnowskie Góry, where it was ceremonially unveiled. The original structure had deteriorated significantly, so in the 1980s an accurate replica was made, with the only preserved elements being the cast steel bell and its suspension. In 2020, another bell, cast in bronze, was installed as a result of efforts by the Association of Lovers of the Tarnogórska Land. Architecturally, the bell tower has a post structure, with a wooden, shingled roof, and stands on a stone foundation. A culturally significant feature are the commemorative plaques related to the activities of the "Solidarność" trade union, which honor historical events such as martial law and the first strikes in Upper Silesia, thus linking the past with contemporary reflections on freedom and social resistance. An interesting fact is that next to the bell tower grows the "Oak of Freedom," blessed by Pope Francis, symbolizing freedom and the memory of the region's history. As an element of cultural heritage, the bell tower attracts tourists and constitutes an important part of the local community, reminding us of the mining tradition of Tarnowskie Góry.