FEATURES, ORIGINS, VALUES AND LEGAL PROTECTION
The underground factories in Walim are one of the six military installations in the Owl Mountains, whose secrets have still all not been discovered. This is part of a huge construction project codenamed “Riese” which was launched in 1943. Originally, the work was carried out by foreign labourers but these were eventually replaced, by the spring of 1944, with prisoners from KL Gross-Rosen.
The underground part of the complex consists of three parallel but not enclosed mineshafts with a system of tunnels connecting them at right angles to the excavated chamber. In Mineshaft No. 1, about 30m from the opening, is a concrete but unfinished sentry post, which was to control any movement from the outside. Multimedia effects installed inside imitate a bombing raid and show the inhumane working conditions in which the tortured prisoners were forced to work in.
Above ground there is a historical path that shows the satellite camps of the Gross-Rosen camp located in the Owl Mountains, there are also numerous signs of the infrastructure of external facilities.
To get to the entrance pavilion from the road, visitors have to cross the Walimka River by using the Bailey bridge, a construction used by engineers during World War II. Built in 1943, this bridge has seen much conflict by serving soldiers during the fighting in North Africa and Western Europe. After the war it found its way to Poland and in 1996 to Walim.
Work to provide tourists access to the underground military complex “Rzeczka” started in 1993 and the opening of an underground tourist route named “The Underground Walim Factories” took place in January 1995.

TOUR ORGANISER
Centre for Culture and Tourism in Walim
Ul. Kosciuszki 2
58-320 Walim
Tel / Fax +48 74 845 73 00 or +48 74 845 72 30
e-mail: muzeum@sztolnie.pl
www.sztolnie.pl

ACCESSIBILITY OF FACILITIES BY VISITORS
The museum is open daily:
In the months from May to September:
Monday to Friday, between 09.00 and 19.00, last admission at 18.00.
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, between 09.00 and 20.00, last admission at 19.00.
In the months from October to April:
Monday to Friday, between 09.00 and 17.00, last admission at 16.00.
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, between 09.00 and 18.00, last admission at 17.00.
The museum is closed on Easter Sunday, 1st November and 25th December.
Organised groups can be booked in advance by telephone.
Trail length is about 450m.
Duration of the tour is about 45 minutes.
The internal temperature is about 6° C and humidity is about 90% and 98%.
The route is electrically illuminated.
The site is suitable for people with physical disabilities but by prior appointment.
We recommend comfortable, athletic shoes and warm clothing in the summer.
Guided tours only
Organised groups can be booked in advance by telephone.