Although it’s the Królowa Mine that tends to hog the limelight, a visit to the Guido shaft is by no means a poor man's substitute. Constructed in 1855 the Guido experience allows hard-hatted visitors to plunge an initial 170 metres below ground while they learn about the world of coal extraction. Descent is via one of those scary-looking cages and from there it's non-stop action as visitors view numerous tunnels and shafts that have been recreated to look just like they did at the height of the industrial revolution. The full immersion experience is helped by staged exhibits, like horses pulling coal-laden carts and a Jesus lookalike puffing away on a pipe. Along the way are numerous pieces of clunky, rusty machinery, including drainage pumps from 1914 and various drilling equipment that looks like it could have played a part in that hangover you had on New Years’ Day. This is a full-on interactive masterpiece that doesn’t just settle for displays of Davy Lamps and long-since-dead equipment. Of course it does that, but it also goes further with a separate ‘art floor’ consisting of multimedia exhibits and cinematic presentations, as well as sound effects during the tour that include braying horses and equipment going 'kerchung, kerchung.' The descent continues to -320m where concerts and other events are often held, and you might catch one of their temporary art exhibits. All visits to Guido are conducted with a tour guide; unfortunately if you would like to take that tour in English you'll have to outlay a hefty fee for a translator on top of the admission cost: 190zł for the -170m level, and an additional 210zł for level -320m level. Your call; either way let them know in advance if you intend to visit. To get there from the centre of Zabrze take tram number 3, or buses 7, 23, 47, 111, 198 or 199, getting off at the 'Skansen Guido' stop; the trip takes ten minutes. 

Admission 21-36/18-31zł.