FEATURES, ORIGINS, VALUES AND LEGAL PROTECTION

The beginning of the 16th century saw the peak of the gold mining boom and also of the town of Zloty Stok, of which around 190 tunnels and excavations are evidence. At that time about 150 kg of gold were obtained per year which accounted for approximately 8% of the European production. Undoubtedly the ennoblement of the city was the establishment of the State Mining Authority for the region, which was based in Zloty Stok. The 18th century, due to the decline in gold mining, saw the beginning of the production of strong poison, arsenic, from the extracted arsenic ore. For over a hundred years Zloty Stok was the world's only manufacturer.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the mine was modernized. The mining train was reactivated in the “Gertrude” mineshaft and electricity introduced. A railway line was built connecting Zloty Stok with Kamieniec. The mine was not damaged during World War II and carried on being worked until 1st April 1961. In 1991, work was started to open the surviving parts of the mine to the public. After 5 years of work, the “Zlota Mine” Underground Tourist Route was launched in 1996. The Underground Tourist Route leads original passageways of the old gold mine and includes a tour of the “Gertrude Mineshaft” Museum, a walk along the “Passage of Death”, a meeting with the Gnome and also a visit to the “Upper Black Adit”, which is the site of Poland's only underground waterfall and the “Lower Black Adit”, opened only in 2006, for a ride to the exit on an orange tram. In the “Gertrude Mineshaft”, which was opened to the public, there is also an extensive exhibit of charts and plans of the mine from the 18th right up to the 20th century. In the side passages, which were formerly used for the storage of explosives, there is an exhibition old mining tools that were discovered in the mine and foundry equipment, which includes a muffle furnace that was used in the smelting of the mined gold. This is also the site of the laboratory of the alchemist Scharffenberger, where visitors can hear stories about arsenic recovered from the arsenic ore mined in the Zloty Stok. The “Passage of Death” is a corridor carved in one of the upper levels where the miners were sentenced to death that were suspected of stealing gold. According to mining legends, the gold was guarded by gnomes. It was said that these are the miners who once died in underground cave-ins.
Tourists hungry for experience, can cover part of the tour route on specially prepared slides. Next along the trail is the “Upper Black Adit” in which the main attraction is the 8 metre, effectively illuminated waterfall. This is followed by descending to the “Lower Black Adit” and pass through an illuminated corridor, which until recently was blocked by a landslide. The main attraction here is a ride on the distinctive orange tunnel tram. Also, thrill-seekers could experience a boat ride along the flooded underground passages in the “Gertrude Mineshaft”. It is a place where there is something for everyone, for both the body and the spirit.

TOUR ORGANISER
Tourist Travel Services “Aurum”
Elzbieta Szumska
Ul Zlota 7
57-250 Zloty Stok
e-mail: ela@kopalniazlota.pl

Ticket reservation: +48 74 817 55 08
Office: +48 74 817 55 74
email: biuro@kopalniazlota.pl
www.kopalniazlota.pl

ACCESSIBILITY OF FACILITIES BY VISITORS
Zlota Mine is open every day:
summer season (from 1 April to 31 October) between 09.00 and 18.00
(Entry every 15 minutes, last tour at 17:30)
winter season (from 1 November to 31 March) between 09.00 and 16.00
(Entry every 45 minutes, last tour at 16:00)
with the exception of 1 November, 25 December and Easter Sunday
Trail length is about 2km.
Tour takes about 1.5 hours.
The internal temperature is about 7° C and humidity is between 90% and 95%.
The route is electrically illuminated.
The trail is suitable for people with physical disabilities but to a limited extent.
The “Gertrude Mineshaft” is open for people in wheelchairs.
Guided tours in groups of up to 40 people.
Advance reservations for all tour groups are recommended.
We recommend comfortable, athletic shoes and warm clothing in the summer.