Szombierki

Szombierki, currently a district of Bytom, boasts a rich collection of historical monuments and a significant history. Among its architectural treasures are the neo-Gothic Chapel of St. Joseph from 1863 and the neo-Romanesque Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from 1904. Also noteworthy are the town hall building from 1913 and the Szombierki Power Plant, which began operations in 1920. The region features the winding tower of the "Krystyna" shaft, a symbol of Szombierki, listed in the register of historical monuments. St. Margaret's Hill is an archaeological site, and the 19th-century Fazaniec Landscape Park offers interesting recreational areas. The history of Szombierki dates back to the second half of the 13th century when knightly settlements were established to protect Bytom from Tatar invasions. The first mention of the village comes from 1369; affected by the Hussite Wars and socio-religious changes, it remained loyal to Catholicism. In the 18th century, Szombierki became home to several landowners, and the 18th and 19th centuries brought industrial development, particularly with the opening of the "Król Dawid" mine. A turning point in the history of Szombierki was its purchase by Karol Godulla, who contributed to its development by building a palace and developing infrastructure. In the 19th century, residents began working in industry, transforming the agricultural settlement into an industrial town. After World War I, Szombierki gained a power plant and new housing estates. In 1945, the demographics changed significantly, and after 1951, Szombierki became part of Bytom, intensifying urban development and mining. The economic crisis of the 1930s and later changes after 1989 impacted industrial structures, leading to the closure of the "Szombierki" mine in 1997. In recent years, investments have been made in new housing estates and commercial facilities, and the former mine sites are planned to be transformed into residential areas and a golf course. Szombierki is a place rich in history and culture, traces of which are present in its architecture and the memory of the local community.