Szombierki Explained

Szombierki
Settlement Type:Bytom District
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Poland
Subdivision Type1:Voivodeship
Subdivision Name1:Silesian
Subdivision Type2:County/City
Subdivision Name2:Bytom
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1369
Established Title2:Within city limits
Established Date2:1951
Parts Type:Notable landmarks
Parts Style:para
P1:Szombierki Heat Power Station, Szombierki Coal Mine, Szombierki town hall, Fazaniec Park.
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:4,93
Population Total:23665
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:41-907
Registration Plate:SY

50.3333°N 71°WSzombierki (German: Schomberg) is a district of Bytom, Poland, located in the southern part of the city.

Szombierki Heat Power Station and Szombierki Coal Mine (KWK Szombierki), both recognized as important historical and industrial monuments, are located here.

In 2004 the winding tower "Krystyna" of the former coal mine KWK Szombierki and its surroundings was listed as a National Heritage Site.[1] In 2009 the tower and the Power Station were voted as two of the "Seven Architectural Wonders of the Silesian Voivodeship."[2] In 2013 the Power Station was also recognized as a national heritage site.[3]

The village of Szombierki was first mentioned in documents in 1369.[4] In 1768, the first coal mine was established in Szombierki. However, it was closed around 1820. During World War II, Nazi Germany held prisoners of war in the settlement.[5] POWs worked as forced labourers in the local coal mine, which formed the E72 subcamp of the Stalag VIII-B/344 prisoner of war camp.[5]

Szombierki is home to football club Szombierki Bytom, established in 1919, Polish champions from 1980.

The historic churches of Saint Margaret and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are located in the district.

Etymology and other names

Etymology

The origin of the district's name is disputed, some suggest it derived from the name of Fridericus de Schonenburch, a knight who was a witness of the vassalage of Casimir II to the king of Bohemia, while others point towards "Schönberg" (Meaning Beautiful Mountain in German), a medieval settlement located in the approximate area of Szombierki.

Name of the district in various languages

LanguageName/s
PolishSzombierki
(Polish) SilesianSzōmbierki (Ślabikŏrzowy szrajbōnek), Szůmbierki (Steuer alphabet)
GermanSchomberg
(German) SilesianSchumbarg
Other LanguagesШомбєркі (Ukr.), Шомберки (Rus.), Шомберки (Bul.),

Former names

Shortly after the Polish communist authorities took over Szombierki, its name was officially changed to "Chruszczów". The origin of the name is unknown and it was changed back in 1985.[6]

Religion

At the turn of the 20th and 19th centuries Szombierki had a population of roughly 3,000 people and the village was subordinate to the Holy Trinity church in Bytom.[7] It was decided that a church was to be built in Szombierki and the construction began in 1902. It was designed by Wilhelm Wieczorek and funded by the Schaffgotsch. In 1904 the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Szombierki was completed and it was consecrated on the 20th of June, 1905.

List of churches in Szombierki

NameImageDenominationLocationConstruction BeganConstruction FinishedPatronage
Church of Saint Margaret of AntiochCatholic50.3408°N 18.9147°W-1881Margaret of Antioch
Church of the Most Sacred Heart of JesusCatholic50.3347°N 18.8956°W19021904Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church of the AscensionCatholic50.3397°N 18.9042°W19852001Ascension of Jesus

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rejestr zabytków w Bytomiu.
  2. Web site: Znamy 7 cudów architektury województwa śląskiego . Slaskie.pl . 2009-10-09 . 2014-03-07.
  3. Web site: Bytom: Elektrociepłownia Szombierki w rejestrze zabytków województwa śląskiego . Dziennikzachodni.pl . 2013-02-08 . 2014-03-07.
  4. Edward Wieczorek, Bytom i okolice, OSiR, Bytom, 1997, p. 80.
  5. Web site: Working Parties. Stalag VIIIB 344 Lamsdorf. 6 December 2020.
  6. Web site: Chruszczów pójdzie w zapomnienie. 16 March 2005.
  7. Web site: Kościół Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w Szombierkach - .