REGIONAL MUSEUM HALL IN ZAGWIŹDZIE

In connection with the colonisation and industrialisation of the Opole region, the Prussian King Frederick II the Great established the "Kreuzburgerhütte" ironworks in Zagwiździe in 1754. At that time, a workers' colony was established and a blast furnace was built. In 1802, a shearing building was constructed, and in 1806, the hammer mill, i.e. forge. In 1869, the ironworks became the property of Kasper Kamp, and later of the Hadamik and Pyka families. Until the mid-19th century, the ironworks in Zagwiździe managed other nearby ironwork facilities located in Budkowice, Bogacica, Karłowiec, Murów, Tuły, Szum and Szumirad. In the first half of the 19th century, the importance of the ironworks declined significantly, until it was finally closed down, although the hammer mill continued to operate until the 1950s.

A Regional Museum Chamber was established in the buildings of the former ironworks. Here, one can learn what was it like to work in the old ironworks and see how the flywheels that drive the hammers and grinders work. The interiors feature numerous exhibits related to the ironworks' operations. It contains cake moulds, old nails, decorative cast iron stoves, and a collection of decorative keys. In addition to items from the ironworks, the room also houses a huge collection of everyday objects, numerous photographs, documents, certificates, bottles, kerosene lamps, cameras, a mangle, sewing machines, pre-war ice skates and skis, irons and many other items, some of which were used by local residents until quite recently.

In 2012, the hammer mill building received an honorable mention in the "Zabytek Zadbany" (Well-Maintained Monument) competition in the Industrial Architecture and Technological Heritage category.

Visits are possible after prior arrangement by phone.