Szlaki województw śląskiego i opolskiego

The Małapanew Steelworks in Ozimek, founded in the mid-18th century, is the oldest operating steelworks in Poland. The decision to build it was made by the Prussian King Frederick II. The area between the towns of Krasiejów and Schodnia, on the left bank of the Mała Panew river, where older finery forges owned by feudal lords were already located, was chosen for its location. The ironworks were situated in the place of a water mill belonging to a peasant named Ozimek. Over the years, the owner's surname became the name of the settlement, which was initially inhabited by specialists and officials from the ironworks. The plant became famous for the fact that for the first time on the European continent, coke was used in it for blast-furnace smelting. At the beginning of the 20th century, the steelworks had steel and iron foundries with a cleaning plant and a modeling shop, a turning shop for rollers, and mechanical workshops. After the outbreak of World War I, the steelworks had to switch to war production, and after its end, it transitioned entirely to the production of tool and structural steel. The greatest development of the plant occurred after World War II, when the steelworks, foundries, molding shops, and cleaning plants were expanded, and an 18-ton "Birlec" arc furnace was put into operation. In the 1970s, the steelworks employed over 7,000 workers. To this day, the plant continues the over 250-year-old metallurgical and foundry traditions in Ozimek. The detailed history of the steelworks can be learned by visiting the Museum of Metallurgy in Ozimek. Practical information: Sightseeing by telephone arrangement, tel. 77 4651 410 or 694 416 008. Guided tour. Paid admission. Sightseeing time: 1 hour. Parking on św. Floriana Street.