Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski: life between sugar factory and steelworks

Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski is a Joensuu-sized (about 70 000 inhabitants) industrial town. It is situated between Warsaw and Krakow, in the middle of… well… nowhere. It is famous for its metal industry. Do you still wonder why did we end up there? Multiple times? It’s Karol’s hometown. This time we spent there one week: 5 days working and few evenings visiting friends (and making new ones 🙂 ) and a bit of sightseeing.

Related read: Best destinations in Poland

Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski

Historic-Archaeological Museum

The Historic-Archaeological Museum in an old palace building that worth exploring from the outside too.

Little local art: alcohol price tags on a fence in a park not far from the shop.

Old palace building now hosts the Museum — Old palace building now hosts the Historic-Archeological Museum.

Factories

The sugar factory is closed since 2006 – actually that’s when they stopped producing sugar. But you can still check it from outside. It was also the first sugar factory in Poland built in 1839.
So-called “new” steel factory still operates and is the main employer for the city (around 1500 people employed directly and much more in companies providing services to the factory). The old steel factory was built in 1827. The new one in the 1970s. It employed 17 000 people at some point.
The factory is surrounded by nice forest which was planted to reduce pollution. My jogging route also leads there, but different people use it for different purposes: stealing sand, rock, walking, cycling, dumping trash or enjoying each other… Well, a good multi-purpose forest.

The new steel factory from outside — The new steel factory.

Day Trips

And not far from the city you will find other interesting places as well.

Krzemionki Opatowskie flint mines

Opatowskie town is famous for the Neolithic and early bronze age complex of flint mines. It is one of the largest known complexes of prehistoric flint mines in Europe.

Flint stone mine (museum) — Flintstone mine (museum).

Starachowice metallurgy

Starachowice was the center of metallurgy and you can have a great tour in the factory! If you are interested in such, do not miss it! There is a variety of trucks on the display that were made in the town during the last century.