Musée de la Mine de Blanzy

Musée de la Mine et des Hommes - Ancien Puits de Mine Saint Claude

Useful Information

Location:	Blanzy
Open:	16-MAR to JUN Sat, Sun, Hol 14-17. JUL to AUG daily 14-17. SEP to 11-NOV Sat, Sun, Hol 14-17. [2012]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (10-18) EUR 2.50, Children (0-9) free. Groups (15+) Adults EUR 3.20, School Pupils EUR 2.40. [2012]
Classification:	Coal Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=2 h, V=13,000/a[2008].
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Association La Mine Et Les Hommes, 34 rue du Bois Clair, 71450 Blanzy, Tel: +33-385-682285, Fax: +33-385-681665. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1761	mine operated by François de la Chaise.
1776	mine operated by Roettier de la Tour.
1777	mine operated by Desgrange-Happey-Joly et Cie.
1779	mine operated by Renard et Cie.
1782	mine operated by François de la Chaise again.
1786	mine operated by the royal foundry of Montcenis.
1789	during the French Evolution operated by Pourtalès-Perret-Desplaces et Cie.
1818	mine operated by Jules Chagot.
1826	mine operated by Chagot-Bassano-Perret.
1856	mine operated by Compagnie des Mines de Houille de Blanzy Chagot et Cie.
1882	Saint-Claude shaft closed.
1900	mine operated by Société Anonyme des Houillères de Blanzy.
1946	with the décret de nationalisation all coal mines are nationalized, mines of the Loire are managed by the Société des Houillères du Bassin de Blanzy.
1969	all coal managements of central and south France are merged.
1970	abandoned machinery collected by the mines and the city for the future museum.
1978	museum opened to the public under the name Écomusée Creusot-Montceau.
1981	headframe relocated to this place from the Pré Long mine at Montceau-les-Mines.
1982	engine room built and hoist installed.
1983	railroad tracks laid.
1987	entrance building completed.
1988	underground tour opened.
1992	underground mining in the area ends.
2000	surface operation ends.

Geology

Description

The Musée de la Mine de Blanzy is dedicated to the coal mining of the Loire basin. The sedimentary rocks here have coal seams which were mined underground. The museum offers the renovated surface buildings and the headframe of the former puit Saint-Claude (Saint-Claude shaft).

The underground tour starts with an elevator ride into the mine, a ride on the mine train for several hundred meters, and a walk through the mine. The tunnels are equipped like a typical working mine, with tools and machinery and the contemporary lining. The different departments of the underground museum start with the 1960s mining technology and go back to the early days of the min.