Podgórze Uranium Mine (Kowary)

The Podgórze Uranium Mine (pod-GOO-zheh) in Kowary is a former uranium mine in Poland's Giant Mountains where ore really was extracted in the 1950s — and where you now explore the tunnels by the light of miners' lamps. Highlights include a flooded shaft more than 240 m deep, an underground chapel of St. Barbara, the chamber of a former radon inhalation clinic and a large collection of uranium glass glowing green under UV light. It is one of the most atmospheric rainy-day options near Karpacz.

Where it is

Kowary is a small town in Lower Silesia, southwest Poland, roughly 15–20 km from Jelenia Góra and a short drive from Karpacz. Wrocław and its airport are about two hours away by car. The mine is at ul. Podgórze 54 on the southern edge of town. Do not confuse it with Sztolnie Kowary (the Liczyrzepa mine) about half a kilometer away — a separate attraction with a different operator.

A Cold War mine

Podgórze operated from 1950 to 1958, first under the Kowary Mining Enterprise and later the secretive Industrial Works R-1. It was the only mine in Kowary built entirely after World War II; in total 196.2 tons of uranium ore were extracted here. Ore from Kowary went to the Soviet Union for its nuclear program, and the whole operation was a state secret.

The mine had a second life: from 1974, adit 19a housed a radon inhalation facility run by the spa in nearby Cieplice, where patients breathed radon-enriched air; about 3,600 patients a year used it. It closed at the end of the 1980s (sources give dates between 1989 and 1991).

What you will see

The standard tourist route is about 1,600 m long and takes 80–90 minutes:

• unlit tunnels, explored with real miners' lamps;
• the chapel of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners;
• a flooded shaft about 242–244 m deep (sources differ slightly), lit up and visible from the route — considered the deepest underground dive site in Poland;
• the former radon inhalation chamber;
• an exhibition of uranium glass, the largest such collection in Poland;
• mining tools, equipment and archive photos.

Bats hibernate in the mine in winter, so flash photography is not allowed.

Other routes

• Extreme route: about 3 km and up to 3 hours, with helmet, headlamp and waders through working sections of the mine; minimum age 16, good fitness required.
• Diving route: linked to more than 20 km of flooded workings reached from the tourist level; ask the operator for details.

Hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Since September 1, 2025 the mine has been open daily 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with tours every hour on the half hour. No separate winter 2026/27 schedule had been announced; call ahead.
• Tickets (2026 price list): adults PLN 53, reduced PLN 45, children under 6 PLN 1, family 2+2 PLN 167, 2+3 PLN 201, groups PLN 39 per person; extreme route PLN 280.
• Online booking is available from the mine's website. Contact: +48 538 715 100 or +48 780 161 191, kopalniapodgorze@gmail.com.

Practical tips

• It is about 8°C (46°F) and 97% humidity underground, and the floor can be wet: wear closed shoes and a jacket.
• Dogs and strollers are welcome on the tourist route, and the operator says it is accessible for visitors with disabilities.
• All visits are guided. Ask in advance whether a non-Polish-speaking guide is available.

Parking

There are three free parking lots along the access road: the lowest one (about 400 m of steep uphill walking), a middle one and an upper lot right by the ticket office. On busy days a traffic light controls alternating one-way traffic on the narrow steep section.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you want an authentic, slightly rough-around-the-edges mine experience rather than a polished museum. With its lamp-lit tunnels and glowing glass, it is a good choice for families with older children.

Nearby

• Sztolnie Kowary, a shorter, fully lit uranium mine tour.
• The Lower Silesian Monuments Miniature Park in Kowary.
• Karpacz, with Vang Stave Church and the Kopa chairlift.