Copper mine at Le Thillot, Historical copper mine in Le Thillot, France.
The copper mine at Le Thillot is a complex of underground tunnels and surface structures that display extraction methods from the 16th to 18th centuries. The site features multiple shafts and passages at varying depths with chambers where ore was extracted.
Copper extraction started in 1560 under the rule of the Dukes of Lorraine and remained an important economic activity until 1761. During this period, mining techniques evolved from pure manual labor to controlled blasting with black powder.
The place takes its name from centuries of mining tradition that defined the community and made it a center of metal processing. The preserved equipment and structures show how workers carried out this demanding profession in the local landscape.
The site is accessible on foot via rue de la gare in Le Thillot and is located in an easy-to-reach area with space to explore. Guided tours are the best way to visit the underground passages safely, as conditions below ground are challenging.
Tool marks and blast holes are still visible in the underground chambers today, showing how miners extracted thousands of tons of ore from the mountain. These markings tell the story of two centuries of heavy labor without modern equipment.
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