Polski
The area in which the current Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship is located has centuries-old industrial traditions. Already in the Neolithic period, there were nearly 4,000 various types of mines where striped flint was mined. The material was then used to produce everyday tools such as axes, knives and arrowheads.
Later (5th-10th centuries), iron metallurgy developed in the area of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, as evidenced by the remains of numerous furnaces and primary slags. The iron smelting process was carried out using the so-called smelting furnaces, in which iron was obtained in a sponge-like form containing slag by reducing iron ore with charcoal. Iron suitable for making tools, weapons, etc. was obtained by removing slag from shale by repeated forging.
The first industrial plants related to metal processing were established in this area already in the Middle Ages. Lead, copper and silver ores mined on site were used for production, and when they were exhausted, iron ore was used. In the 17th century, the first blast furnaces were built - in Samsonów and Bobrza, which were part of the Old Polish Industrial District.
At that time, plants were located on rivers, which provided the energy needed to run them. Charcoal, produced from the surrounding forests, was still used for the smelting process.
The second half of the 18th century brought a change in the way of obtaining pig iron. Iron smelting in Poland was then based on the blast furnace process. The greatest development of the district occurred in the first half of the 19th century. He was associated with the activities of Stanisław Staszic. According to his concept, large industrial plants were to be built along the Kamienna River, creating the "Continuous Iron Factory Plant on Kamienna". At that time, many new furnaces, frying plants and rolling mills were built in the Old Polish Basin.
Over time, as a result of political decisions, the development of new iron smelting technologies and competition from Zagłębie Dąbrowskie, there was a slow decline of the plants located in the Old Polish Industrial District.
To this day, many remains of former industrial plants have been preserved, some of which are open to visitors in the form of museums.
The Świętokrzyskie Technical Monuments Trail connects the Kamienna River valley with the central part of the voivodeship. There are over 20 facilities on the site, with road signs leading to them. Information boards in Polish and English have been placed at selected facilities.
