Zabierzów: Quarry, Trails and History

Church and Architectural History

The neo-Gothic parish church of St. Francis of Assisi stands on Krakowska Street in the area of Zabierzów’s former village green. Its location anchors the building in the village’s former layout. Another trace of the town’s architectural history is the timber-and-stone villa at 149 Krakowska Street. It was built in 1901 to a design by architect Jan Sas-Zubrzycki, who lived in Zabierzów. The church and villa represent different architectural chapters; their locations and histories provide clear points of reference without requiring you to treat the buildings as a single ensemble.

Memorial Site and Historical Remembrance

The obelisk in Zabierzów commemorates the Gestapo’s arrest of the Pogan family and other residents on 3 July 1943. It was unveiled in 1993, on the 50th anniversary of the event. Across from the obelisk, beyond the Rudawa River, stands a former mill dating from 1930. The memorial site and the mill highlight different aspects: one focuses on remembering those who were arrested, while the other is a building from the town’s history. Together, they offer a concise, concrete impression of the historical themes that meet in Zabierzów.

The Former Quarry and Its Surroundings

Limestone was quarried at the Zabierzów quarry from 1922 until it closed in 1992, for use in chalk production. After the quarry was decommissioned, it was flooded, creating a pond. A nature trail passes through the site. Swimming in the pond is not permitted for hygiene reasons. Check this restriction locally before your visit. This makes it possible to consider the site’s former industrial use, the subsequent transformation of the landscape and its present-day significance separately, without treating the pond as a swimming destination.

Walking and Cycling Routes

A walking route of the Kraków PTTK branch starts at Zabierzów railway station and passes through the quarry, Las Zabierzowski, Wąwóz Zbrza Gorge, Kleszczów, Brzoskwinia, Chrosna and Wąwóz Półrzeczki Gorge, ending at the car park in Dolina Mnikowska and the Mników MPK stop. The walking route gives the distance from Zabierzów railway station to the quarry as 1.3 km. The itinerary therefore includes not only the quarry as a waypoint but also continues through other named places and gorges. A marked cycling route runs from Zabierzów railway station through Bolechowice, Karniowice, Kawiory and Bębło Kolonia Zachodnia to Dolina Będkowska; from there, a blue cycling route continues to Jerzmanowice Kolonia Zachodnia. There is also a cycle path near the quarry. The blue walking trail from Zabierzów to Mników also passes nearby. These details distinguish a longer route that goes through the quarry from paths that simply run near it. Discover more destinations: Ojców, Szczyglice, Niedźwiedź, Zielonki, Wielka Wieś, Brzyczyna, Trojanowice, Dziekanowice.

For the broader travel overview: Kraków.