Old Coal Mine in Nowa Ruda

Coal was mined in Nowa Ruda earlier than anywhere else in what is now Poland – the first records date from 1434. The last miners came to the surface in 1995, but the surviving Lech adit – the last part of the mine – has been open to tourists since 1996. The Old Mine in Nowa Ruda (Dawna Kopalnia Nowa Ruda) at ul. Obozowa 4, in the former Piast mining field, offers about 700 m of underground passages, the original control room and a ride on a real mine train.

One of Europe's most dangerous mines

Mining took off here in the 18th century with the opening of the Ruben mine (1741), forerunner of the Piast mine. The Nowa Ruda mines had features unknown elsewhere. In 1877 deposits of refractory shale were discovered, and after the Second World War this was the only place in Poland where it was mined, purified and calcined – hence the distinctive roasting kilns. The greatest danger, however, came from sudden outbursts of gas and rock, especially carbon dioxide: between 1908 and 1945 there were 596 outbursts, throwing out more than 100,000 tonnes of rock in total. The worst disaster, on 10 May 1941, claimed 187 lives.

In the early 1990s the decision was taken to close the Nowa Ruda colliery for economic reasons. While it was still working, a few enthusiasts came up with the idea of preserving part of it as a museum – and so in 1996 the Mining Museum was founded, today's underground tourist route.

What to see

• Exhibition rooms with mining tools, machinery and memorabilia, and an explanation of how coal is formed.
• The original control room with its preserved equipment – once the centre for monitoring the mine's safety.
• The underground route, about 700 m long through the passages of the old workings, with mining machines and the ways tunnels were secured.
• A ride on an authentic mine train through the dark tunnels – it carries you out of the mine at the end of the tour.
• Along the way you meet Skarbnik, the mine spirit of miners' folklore, who scares and amuses visitors.

Tripto tip

The guided tour takes about 60 minutes, and the temperature underground is 8–12°C – bring a jacket or sweatshirt and comfortable shoes. Tours start every hour: from April to June and in September and October the mine is open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), in July and August 9:00–18:00, and from November to March 9:00–16:00, closed on Mondays. In the price list marked 2025 a standard ticket costs PLN 45, a reduced ticket PLN 37 and a group ticket PLN 35; individual visitors do not need to book. An English-speaking guide is available at 9:00 and 16:00 with advance booking and for an extra fee. The route is partly accessible for wheelchair users, though some sections require help from a companion.