Krupka, Medieval mining town in Teplice District, Czech Republic
Krupka is a town in northern Bohemia shaped by its medieval mining heritage. The surrounding landscape contains over 150 abandoned mining sites with shafts and underground passages scattered across hills and valleys.
King Wenceslaus II established the settlement in 1305 to exploit local tin and silver deposits, which quickly became a major extraction operation. The town remained a leading mining center throughout the late Middle Ages before gradual decline.
The name Krupka derives from an old word for pitcher or container, reflecting the hollowed landscape left by mining. Walking through the town, one encounters numerous reminders of this extraction heritage woven into daily life.
Visitors can explore several preserved mining sites including the Knötel district accessed near the Komáří hůrka cable car line and the large Pinge sinkhole. Plan visits during warmer months when paths and ground conditions are most accessible.
The Starý Martin mine contains one of Europe's longest continuous tin veins, running two kilometers through the mountain and showcasing how medieval miners worked. This underground corridor demonstrates the scale and depth of extraction techniques that miners achieved centuries ago.
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