Almost 110 people on two wheels – there was even a tandem bike on the route! 30 kilometres under their belts and a shared goal. That’s right, in true sporting fashion, Tarnowskie Góry celebrated the 9th anniversary of its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Sunday

At ten o’clock sharp, Tarnowskie Góry’s Market Square filled with the buzz of activity and the ringing of bicycle bells. However, before the colourful peloton set off, Piotr Korab, Head of the Department of Culture, Tourism and City Promotion, welcomed the participants, gave a quick safety briefing and invited everyone to pose for a commemorative photo.

A moment later, the cyclists set off on a journey through the town’s mining history. The first stop was Kunszt Park, a symbolic site where the historic heart of Tarnowskie Góry’s mining industry once beat. However, the route held some surprises – when the peloton reached St Barbara’s Chapel, it turned out that for many participants this spot had been completely unknown until then. With every passing kilometre, the landscape became increasingly unique. The cyclists cycled around the Popłuczkowa slag heap, passed the Historic Silver Mine and the Staszic Shaft, before finally heading towards the charming Black Trout Adit.

Each of these stops was not only an opportunity to catch one’s breath, but also a proper open-air history lesson. This was all thanks to the guides from the Local Tourist Organisation ‘Miasto Gwarków’. Małgorzata and Maciej Bystrzanowski, making their debut in this role, shared their passion for local heritage, with expert support from Mariusz Jarzombek. The finale of the 30-kilometre excursion took place at the entrance to the Fryderyk Deep Adit, where a well-deserved, cool breeze awaited the tired but clearly satisfied participants.