Visit to Złoty Stok Medieval Gold Mine near Wroclaw, Poland
Date: 19 October 2023
Location: Situated approximately 100 kilometres south of Wroclaw, it lies close to the Czech border in Lower Silesia.
Highlights:
- This historic mine dates back over 1000 years and has been an important site for gold mining since medieval times.
- Today, it serves as a popular tourist attraction offering guided tours through its underground tunnels and a museum exhibition showcasing the history and techniques of gold mining.
- Tourists can explore the mine by foot or boat. The mine also offers educational programs for groups. Other attractions include a medieval village and a restaurant.
One of the key objectives of the MINEX Europe Forum is to share best practices in mineral resources management, mining and post-mining reconciliation and redevelopment of mining areas. The MINEX Europe 2023 Forum delegates will have an opportunity to visit one of the most prominent cases of the repurposing of the old mine turned into a grand tourist attraction in Poland which has in 2022 won the prestigious European Heritage Award.
Visit to a Medieval Gold Mining Village at Złoty Stok became an unforgettable experience showcasing post-mining reconciliation and redevelopment of mining areas, turning an abandoned mine town into a thriving tourist attraction and Polish-German heritage centre.
Złoty Stok is the oldest mining and metallurgical centre in Poland. Arsenic and gold deposits were mined in these areas as early as the 13th century. Mining activity flourished in the 16th century. In the golden age of mining, there could be as many as 150 small and larger mines in the area In 1962, the mine in Złoty Stok ceased its activity, and later it was completely flooded. It is estimated that during 700 years of exploitation, 16 tonnes of pure gold were obtained from local deposits.
On May 28, 1996, the Underground Tourist Route “Gold Mine” was launched. Extremely interesting tunnels were made available: “Gertuda Adit”, and “Black Upper Adit” with the only underground waterfall in Poland (8 m high) and the newest section, open to the public since 2008, the Lower Black Adit.
