THE HERITAGE AS A SOURCE OF POSSIBLE PROFITABLE WORK

Waga,J. (2001). The heritage as a source of possible profitable work at Rudy Wielkie. .
In D. Kereković, E. Nowak (ed.). GIS Polonia 2001. Hrvatski Informaticki Zbor- Gis Forum,
Croatia,162-166.
THE HERITAGE AS A SOURCE OF POSSIBLE PROFITABLE WORK
AT RUDY WIELKIE
Jan Maciej WAGA
University of Silesia
Faculty of Earth Sciences
Department of Physical Geography
Sosnowiec
ABSTRACT
Rudy Wielkie has been not only the Cistercian cult centre of the Virgin Mary, but also
cultural, educational, forestry economy and industrial centre since the 13th century. In the 19th and
the first part of the 20th centuries Rudy was a residence of the Ratibor Dukes family. About 800 years
traditions give large possibilities of development of tourism and regional education there. The most
important elements of the local historical space are: the monastery-palace, the post-Cistercian
church, the St. Madeleine’s church, the J. Roger’s Hospital, the old post office, the hunters lodges, the
old presbytery, the hydrotechnic buildings and the remainders of factories from the 18th and-19th
centuries, the historical narrow-gauge railway line, the old railway station, the old engine-house, the
“Palace Park”, the “Under Oak” park, the “Beech” range and the “Route of the Polish Hussars”.
The monastery is undoubtedly the most important object. In 1998 it came back again to
Catholic Church - to the Diocesan of Gliwice, after about 200 years.
All the planing educational enterprises are connected with the Cistercian traditions and are
modelling as: medieval exploitation and processing of iron ore, work in the monk’s scriptorium and
library, activities in the monk’s school and the theatre, cultivation of the medieval Cistercian garden,
many different projects connected with water economy, forestry economy and hunting. Activities
should be realised in similar mode to the live skansen in Biskupin. Some virtual games and
multimedial encyclopaedia about old Cistercian monastery at Rudy with application of GIS
technology are being prepared by the realizers of this project.
New Information Technologies In Cultural And Natural Heritage Management
Rudy Wielkie (Rudy) (fig.1) has been not only the Cistercian cult centre of the Virgin Mary,
but also cultural, educational, forestry economy and industrial centre since the 13th century (Rybandt,
1977, Waga, 1996, Wolnik, 1995). In the 19th and the first part of the 20th centuries Rudy was a
residence of the Ratibor Dukes family. About 800 years traditions give large possibilities of
development of tourism and regional education there.
The most important elements of the local historical space are (fig. 2): 1 - the monastery-palace,
2 - the post-Cistercian church, 3 - the St. Madeleine`s church, 4 - the J. Roger`s Hospital, 5 - the old
post office, 6 - the hunters lodges, 7 - the old presbytery, 8 - the hydrotechnic buildings and 9 - the
remainders of factories from the 18th and 19th centuries, 10 - the historical narrow–gauge railway line,
Waga,J. (2001). The heritage as a source of possible profitable work at Rudy Wielkie. .
In D. Kereković, E. Nowak (ed.). GIS Polonia 2001. Hrvatski Informaticki Zbor- Gis Forum,
Croatia,162-166.
11 - the old railway station, 12 - the old engine–house, 13 - the “Palace Park”, 14 - the “Under Oak”
park, 15 - the “Beech” range and 16 - the “Route of the Polish Hussars”
Fig. 2
Especially three of them: the J. Roger’s Hospital (“Szpitalik Rogera”), the old railway station
and the monastery – palace with the “Palace Park“ are able to be the centre of development of tourism
and the regional cultural and nature education centre.
In the years 1995 – 99 the open part of Education Centre at The Directorate of the Landscape
Park “Cistercian Landscape Compositions of Rudy Wielkie” (fig. 3) – placed in former the J. Rogers’s
Hospital was created.
A long – range programme of activity for this Centre was worked out (Waga, 1998 a, b). The
open part of the centre consists of: The Small Botanical Garden (A), The Small Skansen Museum of
Cistercian Mining and Metallurgy of Iron (B) and Practical Work Area (C). In The Botanical Garden
are: a pool (1a), a position of swampy plants (1b), “The Black Oak’s” trunk and after glacial boulder
(2), the Hill – a model of parabolic dune (3), a model of limestone rock (4). The Botanical Garden is
destined for natural education the youth from elementary and secondary schools. In the Skansen
Museum are: a model of iron ore mining area (1), an exposition of different sorts of iron ores (2), a
model of grinds - a stack for heat (fired) wood coal (3); the iron ores crumb place (4); the scrubber
place (5); the primitive smelting furnace with bellow (6), the smith’s position (7); a model of hammer
with a water circle (8) and the mill-race (9).
Waga,J. (2001). The heritage as a source of possible profitable work at Rudy Wielkie. .
In D. Kereković, E. Nowak (ed.). GIS Polonia 2001. Hrvatski Informaticki Zbor- Gis Forum,
Croatia,162-166.
The Skansen Museum is a base for public access historical fete organisation, such the
“Officina Ferraria Rudensia”. It shows output and processing of iron ore in Middle Ages.
In The Practical Work Area are as follows: The Fire Circle (1) and The Lawn (2). On The
Area during archaeologic fete are demonstrated elements of the mesolith, the neolith, the ages of
bronze and iron economic activity like in Biskupin. Here is also the place where educational plays are
organised. In the building will be organised small Regional Nature Museum.
The Museum of Narrow – Gauge railway has been organising in the old railway station (1)
and the old engine – house (2) for beginning 90th years (Soida, without date) (fig. 4).
There are set of installations and a rolling stock which was used in the Narrow – gauge rail
from the end 19th to the end of 20th century. All of these exhibitions are acting. More over there are
many old vehicles – cars, tractors, bikes and motorbikes, and also steam – engines, internal
combustion engine and different installations. The Museum is demonstrated mainly technical and
civilised development in the area of Rudy in turn of 19th and 20th century.
The monastery-palace complex (“Zespół klasztorno-pałacowy”) and park in Rudy (fig. 5 - 7)
is undoubtedly the most important object for development of tourism and education which is based on
cultural heritage of his region.
In 1998 it came back again to Catholic Church – to the Diocesan of Gliwice, after about 200
years.
All the planning educational enterprises are connected with the Cistercian traditions and are
modelling as: medieval exploitation and processing of iron ore, work in the monk’s scriptorium and
library, activities in the monk`s school and the theatre, cultivation of the medieval Cistercian garden,
many different projects connected with water economy, forestry economy and hunting. The activities
should be realised in similar mode to the live skansen in Biskupin and in The Cistercian abbey of St.
Mary of Fountains in England.
Waga,J. (2001). The heritage as a source of possible profitable work at Rudy Wielkie. .
In D. Kereković, E. Nowak (ed.). GIS Polonia 2001. Hrvatski Informaticki Zbor- Gis Forum,
Croatia,162-166.
In the monastery and palace complex is being organising at present:
A – seminary rooms, oratory, auditorium;
B – museum and library;
C – youth hostel (also for disabled person)
D – Wanderer’s house – hotel (Stabla K., 2000)
The viridarium, northerly courtyard and palace’s park with ponds and landscape glades, apart
from religious function, will be served to wide education plan and tourism. The park round about the
monastery and palace complex is in style of the English Landscape Park.
For the promotion and education among others some virtual games and multimedia
encyclopaedia about old Cistercian monastery at Rudy with application GIS technology will serve.
On account of specific character of settlements the level of unemployment in Rudy is
relatively low. But in the circuit of Kuźnia Raciborska – where Rudy are located the unemployment is
very high. Development of tourism, considering educational tourism (prepared for pupils from large
agglomeration like: Katowice, Rybnik and Ostrava or smaller like Kędzierzyn) is able to be economic
chance for the circuit and all region. Development of the bicycle route`s net, starting the narrow-gauge
railway from Gliwice to Racibórz, development of tourist services - these are tasks which will be
important to reach this aim. It is possible that the number of participants of tourist will achieve from
several dozen thousand to circa 200 000 person per year.
Waga,J. (2001). The heritage as a source of possible profitable work at Rudy Wielkie. .
In D. Kereković, E. Nowak (ed.). GIS Polonia 2001. Hrvatski Informaticki Zbor- Gis Forum,
Croatia,162-166.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Rybandt S., 1977: Średniowieczne opactwo cystersów w Rudach. Ossolineum, Wrocław, pp. 5 - 175.
Soida K., without date: Kolej Gliwice Trynek Rudy - Racibórz, Krzysztof Soida i EMI - PRESS,
pp. 81 - 82.
Stabla K., 2000: Analiza stanów granicznych konstrukcji zespołu klasztorno-pałacowego w Rudach.
Praca dyplpmowa inżynierska. Wydział Architektury Politechniki Śląskiej. Gliwice, pp. 10 - 12.
Waga J.M., 1996: The Landscape Park “Cistercian Landscape Compositions of Rudy Wielkie” [in:]
Materials of IOIS Annual Meeting - 1996 May 12 - 15 Terrain Symposium for presentation of
„Interdyscyplinary Information System for The Landscape Park - Cistercian Landscape
Compositions of Rudy Wielkie”. Dyrekcja PK „CKKRW”, Rudy, pp. 2, 8-11.
Waga J.M., 1998a: Projekt organizacji działalności Ośrodka Edukacyjnego i Zespołu Ekspozycyjnego
Dyrekcji Parku Krajobrazowego „Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich”. Scripta
Rudensia, vol. 9., Dyrekcja PK „CKKRW”, Rudy, pp. 72 - 83.
Waga J.M., 1998b: Trzyletni program działalności Ośrodka Edukacyjnego przy Dyrekcji Parku
Krajobrazowego „Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich”. Scripta Rudensia, vol.
9, Dyrekcja PK „CKKRW”, Rudy, pp. 84 - 102.
Wolnik F., 1995: Matka Boska Rudzka. Dzieje Sanktuarium w Rudach Wielkich. Wyd. Świętego
Krzyża, Opole, pp. 5 - 65.