Złoty Stok Gold Mine

In the 16th century the mines of Złoty Stok supplied, according to the site's operator, as much as 8 per cent of Europe's gold, and in total some 16 tonnes of pure gold were extracted here. Later the ore was used mainly to produce arsenic. Today an underground route leads through the old Gertruda and Czarna (Black) adits to an underground waterfall, and you ride out on an orange mine train.

History: gold, arsenic and the Fuggers

The earliest known record of mining at Złoty Stok dates from 1273, when Duke Henry IV Probus granted the Cistercians of Kamieniec Ząbkowicki the right to prospect. The golden age came in the 16th century: many smelters operated here and annual gold output reached about 110 kg. The Fugger family of Augsburg and their partners invested in the mines. Over time arsenic became the main product, and in the 19th century Wilhelm Güttler introduced a modern ore chlorination process.

From 1907 an electric narrow-gauge railway carried the ore out. After the war the mine was nationalised, but it was closed as unprofitable in 1961–1962. A local PTTK tourist club opened the first adit to visitors as early as 1969, and the present Underground Tourist Route has been running since 28 May 1996.

What you will see

• Gertruda adit: about 500 m of tunnels with tools, photographs and a timeline, an alchemist's laboratory and a hologram of the legend of Gertruda's ghost.
• Czarna adit with the Death Gallery, linked to the story of convicts punished in the 17th century for stealing gold.
• An underground waterfall dropping about 10 metres.
• The mine train, which carries you along the last 300 metres or so of the route.
• A boat trip along a flooded section of adit (about 200 m), a separate attraction that must be booked.
• The Museum of Mining and History of Złoty Stok in the former crusher building, included in the mine ticket.

Interesting facts

Local tradition links Złoty Stok with one of the world's first documented uses of black powder for rock blasting, in 1612. According to tradition, the sculptor Veit Stoss also held shares in the local mining company. Along the route hang tongue-in-cheek safety signs such as "Do not throw the hammer while standing on scaffolding". In 2015 the mine received the Polish Tourism Organisation's Gold Certificate. Besides the mine, the complex includes a Medieval Mining Village with old machinery and the colourful Ochre Adit.

Tripto tip

The mine is open daily from 9:00 to 16:45 (last entry 16:45), and visits are guided. Tickets are sold on site; only the underground boat trip needs booking, by phone at least one day ahead. The main route takes about 1.5 hours and the temperature underground is around 6–7°C all year, so bring a warm layer and comfortable shoes. Expect stairs, uneven floors and narrow passages. To see more, choose a package combining the mine with the mining village or the Ochre Adit and allow half a day for the whole complex. Current prices are on the mine's website.