Aurelia Gold Mine in Złotoryja

Złotoryja takes its name from gold, panned here as early as the Middle Ages, and its 13th-century Latin name was Mons Aurum, Gold Hill. The Aurelia mine lets you go underground on the slope of St Nicholas Hill and see what the local hunt for ore looked like.

History

The mine was dug in 1660 as a gallery about 100 metres long, driven in search of copper ore. Small amounts of copper and silver were extracted; there is no information on how much gold came out. In the end the gallery was closed as unprofitable. It was opened to visitors in 1973. During exploration in 1998 a 28-metre vertical shaft was discovered and named Karol's Shaft, followed in 2000 by side branches of the gallery. The name "Aurelia", a nod to the Latin aurum, was given in the 1990s.

What to see

• The gallery – a narrow passage cut into the rock, with clear marks of hand tools and rusty mineral streaks on the walls.
• Karol's Shaft and the side passages found in the late 20th century.
• A gold-panning trough by the entrance, where you can try washing tiny flakes of gold from the sand.
• The Gold Museum in the town centre (ul. Zaułek 2), which holds collections related to mining.

Did you know?

According to legend, the gallery was connected by underground passages to St Nicholas Church on top of the hill. No such passages have ever been found.

Tripto tip

The mine is run by the Złotoryja Culture and Recreation Centre. It is seasonal: open Wednesday to Sunday from May to the end of September, and from October to 20 December by prior booking. Admission is charged; check current hours before you go. There is a car park by the entrance (access via ul. Stroma). It is cool underground, so bring a jumper even in summer. A visit with gold panning takes about an hour.