Kopalnia Złota w Złotym Stoku, Historical gold mine museum in Złoty Stok, Poland.
The Kopalnia Złota w Złotym Stoku is a mining museum containing multiple tunnels, chambers, and exhibition spaces beneath the surface. These rooms display old tools, rock specimens, and equipment that miners used over many centuries.
Mining at Złoty Stok started in the 12th century, making it one of the oldest recorded gold extraction sites in Poland. Work continued there until the early 20th century.
The mine was long a vital workplace for the local community, and miners left traces of their faith in a shrine deep beneath the surface. They carved religious figures directly into the rock walls, showing how central this place was to their daily lives.
The underground visit requires comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing, as conditions beneath the surface are cool and damp. Tours are offered in multiple languages, but it is wise to check in advance which ones are available.
One particularly interesting object is an old water-powered hammer system that miners used to break rock. This device shows how thoughtful and advanced the technology was even in medieval times.
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