Historic Mine "Ignacy"

The Ignacy Mine in Rybnik, also known as Hoym, was established in 1792 on the initiative of Karl Georg von Hoym and was managed by Prussian authorities. Initially, it was under the jurisdiction of the Mining Office in Rybnik, and from 1810, it was overseen by state mining authorities. Throughout its history, the mine underwent numerous takeovers, including by Prince Hugo zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen in 1890 and by the "Czernickie Towarzystwo Węglowe" (Czernica Coal Company) in 1914. From 1940 to 1945, the mine belonged to the Hermann Göring conglomerate, and from 1945, it was part of the "Rybnickie Zjednoczenie Przemysłu Węglowego" (Rybnik Coal Industry Union). In 1968, it was merged with the Rydułtowy Mine. The mine bore various names depending on the period, including "Hoym," "Hoym-Laura," and "Ignacy." Today, it is a historic coal mine, open to visitors since 1999. Its main attractions include two steam engines, one from 1900 and the other from 1920, as well as an exhibition dedicated to mining. In 2004, the Ignacy Mine received the title of the best tourist product in the Silesian Voivodeship. In 2006, it was included in the Trail of Technical Monuments, and its 46-meter-high water tower now serves as a viewpoint. The mine's building complex is listed in the register of monuments under number A/165/05. The Ignacy Mine is a significant part of the region's cultural heritage, combining history, industrial architecture, and cultural aspects related to mining.