THE CRADLE OF THE OIL INDUSTRY – THE BÓBRKA MINE IS NOW 170 YEARS OLD!

BÓBRKA CELEBRATES THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST OIL MINE, WHERE BLACK GOLD IS EXTRACTED INDUSTRIALLY. TODAY, SURROUNDED BY THE HILLS AND GREENERY OF THE LOW BESKIDS, THERE IS ALSO AN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY MUSEUM, WHOSE UNIQUE EXHIBITIONS ALLOW VISITORS TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE AUTHENTIC ATMOSPHERE OF A 19TH-CENTURY MINE. IT'S A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE TO GET TO KNOW THE CRADLE OF THE WORLD'S OIL INDUSTRY!

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE OIL INDUSTRY IN THE LOW BESKIDS

The history of this place dates back to 1854, when a mine was established in the Bóbrka forest near natural oil seeps, and the industrial exploitation of black gold began.

The pioneers of the oil industry and founders of the mine were: pharmacist Ignacy Łukasiewicz, landowner Tytus Trzecieski, and the owner of the village of Bóbrka – Karol Klobassa-Zrencki. Thanks to their harmonious cooperation and operational efficiency, the world's first multidimensional oil company was established.

The beginning of the mine was a trench 120 m long and 120 cm deep, which was dug at a place called Wrzanka, where abundant oil seeps were observed. The further fate of the oil company and the next stages of the mine's development were closely related to the activities of Ignacy Łukasiewicz, who modernized the enterprise operating in the Low Beskids, taking advantage of professional advice from contemporary authorities in the field of geology and drilling.

FROM ŁUKASIEWICZ TO UNESCO – DEVELOPMENT OF THE OIL MINE IN BÓBRKA

Hand-operated drilling rig, photo by Archive of the Museum of Oil and Gas Industry in Bóbrka

Under the leadership of pioneer Ignacy Łukasiewicz, in the small Bóbrka in the Low Beskids, an oil mine was born, marking a milestone in the development of the oil industry. Today, Bóbrka is more than a mine; it is a symbol of patriotism and solidarity. Over the centuries, it set organizational standards but also served as a refuge for participants in the January Uprising, among others.

 

History has shown that over the last centuries, petroleum has become the most important natural resource, a stimulus for the development of civilization. The invention of fractional distillation of crude oil, resulting in kerosene, and the invention of the first kerosene lamp marked the beginning of a new era of lighting and led the world into a new stage of history, called the "Age of Oil."

Since 1961, the Bóbrka mine has been a museum center for the history of the Polish oil industry. Today, on the premises of the still-active mine, one can still see the oldest oil shafts: "Franek" and "Janina" or the obelisk from 1872, commemorating the founding of the mine. Particularly interesting are the original devices, objects, buildings, and documents related to the oil, gas, and refining industries.

Not everyone is aware of the historical significance of this place and its undeniable importance in the history of the global oil industry. Bóbrka is a testimony to the beginnings and development of the extraction of one of the most important natural resources of the modern world. That's why the 19th-century mine is an unquestionable candidate for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It can already boast the title of Historic Monument, awarded to the most important and valuable Polish monuments. This place is an unquestionable attraction of the Low Beskids.

DISCOVER IN THE LOW BESKIDS THE WORLD'S OLDEST OIL MINE

Discover the Bóbrka mine - a place in the Low Beskids where the history of the oil industry began. We invite you to visit this unique mine to see for yourself what life and work looked like in the world's first oil mine. Visit the Museum of the Oil and Gas Industry in Bóbrka - see the historic oil shafts and learn about the history that has impacted the entire world. Planning a trip? Add Bóbrka to your travel calendar and discover one of the most interesting places in Poland.

READ MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN BÓBRKA