Důl Max, Mining heritage site in Libušín, Czech Republic
Důl Max is a former coal mine in Libušín featuring two perpendicular lattice headframes above the shaft, each connected to separate engine houses housing steam engines from 1890. The site also contains two boiler houses with ridge ventilation, a gatehouse, a fire truck shed, and a residential villa.
Shaft sinking began in 1888, with formal mining operations starting in 1890 using the newly installed steam-powered equipment. Continuous coal extraction continued for nearly a century until operations ceased in 1980.
The mine takes its name from Maximilian Egon Fürstenberg, a board member of the Prague Iron Works Company whose family shaped the industrial region. Visitors can still trace this heritage through the preserved buildings and working structures that remain on site.
The site is best explored on foot to see all the buildings spread across the grounds and understand how different structures served the mining operation. An overview of how coal mining worked will help you recognize the purpose of each building and piece of equipment you encounter.
The shaft eventually reached depths exceeding 600 meters, making it the deepest mining operation in the Kladno region at that time. This technical achievement was extraordinary for the era and demonstrated the scale of industrial ambition in the area.
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