Tunnels filled with adventures

For kids with a vivid imagination, the mine in 4 Mežica was the place where dwarfs are dancing in the dark - for others, it was the home of the “bergmandelc”, a frightful underground creature who collects the lost souls of miners. But for the locals, who worked there it was their everyday reality: the mine provided the daily bread for numerous families and over the entire area had a significant impact on life. The Mežica mine was one of the last lead-zinc mines in Europe still operating at the end of the 20th century. When it eventually closed, a rich technical, cultural and natural heritage still remained here.

During the centuries of its operation, an impressive, 1000 km tunnel system was carved into the mountain due to the search for valuable metals. The mine had as many as 300 entrances. All in all, an estimated 19 million tonnes of ore were dug up by the miners, acquiring one million tonnes of lead and half a million tonnes of zinc. As the story goes, lead mined here was used to make the bullets for Napoleon’s soldiers. Entering the mine, you can descend 700 metres below the earth’s surface to explore giant excavation areas, mysterious tunnels, and immense underground chambers.

Tunnels filled with adventures The workers of the mine didn’t want this treasure to disappear so they decided to step up and establish a company. Thanks to their efforts, the tourist mine and museum opened its gate to visitors in 1997. It’s a unique experience to go for an underground tour, guided by a former miner who will take you in the footsteps of his former workplace. To be precise, this adventure is not only by foot, as you can also take a 15-minute incredible journey in the original miners’ train too. Mining equipment and a number of well-preserved machines are displayed on the very same spots where they were once used by the miners at work. You can see the tunnels which were also dug through the ore deposits, so you’ll have the experience of seeing some remains of the glittering, grey coloured metallic lead ore. For the ones seeking an exclusive experience, the mine offers a 6 kilometer long underground bike trail, while for the even more adventurous, there are flooded tunnels for kayaking. Each year about 20,000 people visit the mine which makes it the most popular tourist destination in the region - a fact that is also recognised by numerous awards.

he just had enough faith that he had given enough love to them, to appreciate and protect this beautiful heritage

Old, painted beehive panels with various motifs (Photo by Tomo Jeseničnik)