Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia, Underground mining museum in Velenje, Slovenia.

The Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia occupies the Škale pit, opened in 1888, in Velenje. Visitors descend 160 metres in Slovenia's oldest working elevator, whose steam engine is preserved in the tower built the same year as the Eiffel Tower. About one kilometre of tunnels holds 18 scenes with miner puppets, a 1930s miners' flat and original equipment.

Lignite deposits near Škale were first mentioned in the 18th century, with the first drilling in 1875 and the first underground opening in 1887. The Old Shaft tower, built in 1888, housed a steam engine that still survives. In 1893 a major accident caused by flammable lamps led miners to adopt gasoline safety lamps called ziherce.

Mining shaped the identity of Velenje for generations, and the museum shows how miners worked and lived their daily lives. The displayed tools, lamps, and clothing reveal the practical reality of underground labor.

It is best to arrange tours in advance, as visits are organized in groups and conducted underground. Wear layers and sturdy shoes to stay comfortable on uneven paths and in cool tunnel conditions.

The tour ends with a miner's snack, a traditional packed meal given to visitors after the underground ride. The museum has welcomed over half a million visitors since opening, and the route passes 18 staged mining scenes, including a 1930s miner's flat and the white and black changing rooms.