BLACKSMITHING MUSEUM IN PRÓSZKÓW

The forge in Prószków is an unusual place where you can see a blacksmith's workshop as it functioned 100–150 years ago. The history of the forge building itself

is fascinating as well. It is uncertain who first built a forge on what is now Młyńska Street in Prószków and when. However, it is known that in 1769, the then lords of these lands, the Counts of Prószków, transferred it to the Ziolko family, ancestors of the Kotyrba family. This was done in recognition and gratitude for faithful service. Since then, the forge has remained in the hands of the same family. It operated for centuries, until 2002. The last resident blacksmith was Ernest Kotyrba. Currently, the forge in Prószków is most likely the oldest such active facility in the Opole region and certainly one of the older ones in Poland. Today, the forge hosts workshops to demonstrate the blacksmithing craft, performed in exactly the same way as centuries ago. Janusz Sawicz, a blacksmith who looks after the forge, is always eager to share his knowledge about his craft, the manufacturing process, the challenges he faces, and interesting facts about that remarkable place. Workshop participants can feel the warmth of the fire, see how heavy a blacksmith's hammer is, touch the finished items, smell the heated coke and learn why it is always dark in a forge, among other things. The forge is an attractive spot for adults and slightly older children, allowing them to step into the world of red-hot iron. The real attraction is the demonstration of traditional iron forging methods. Participants have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the tools used by blacksmiths, such as blacksmith's tongs, a chisel, a grinder and a tool sharpener. Everything in the forge is authentic and quite simply old! It contains no modern additions or furnishings.