Au cœur de l'Ardoise, Underground slate mine museum in Bertrix, Belgium

Au cœur de l'Ardoise is the former Morépire slate quarry in Bertrix, now a museum entered by a staircase of pale perforated metal panels that descends through a tunnel cut in dark grey rock. Ferns grow from the rock walls, and a blue mesh gate stands to the left of the stairs. The visit goes 25 metres underground.

The slate quarry belonged to the Pierlot family, from which Hubert Pierlot, prime minister and minister of state, descended. Extraction at the Morépire site ended in 1976. The museum opened in 1996 as part of the Domaine de la Morépire, and in April 2010 a new staircase and two new rooms were opened to visitors.

The museum occupies the former Morépire slate quarry, which belonged to the Pierlot family, the family of Hubert Pierlot, prime minister and minister of state, established at Cugnon castle. A beer named Morépire is brewed for the mine following an original recipe, and multilingual terminals provide audio guidance during the visit.

The visit goes 25 metres underground, where the temperature stays at 10 °C and humidity is high, so bring a jacket. Multilingual audio points guide you, and staff keep contact through intercoms and cameras. Since April 2010 a new staircase and two rooms have been open. Bus 163a from Bertrix station stops at Orgeo Les Ardoisières - Musée on weekdays.

The slate seam worked here lies at a 45° angle, and the mine was dug from bottom to top, unlike most slate mines. The rock sometimes contains pyrite, whose small golden points are nicknamed "fool's gold". A beer named Morépire is brewed following an original recipe.