Mines de Hussigny-Godbrange

Musée de la mine de fer d'Hussigny-Godbrange

Useful Information

Location:	Hussigny-Godbrange. (49.497573, 5.871132)
Open:	On certain weekends, only with appointment, please call. MAY to DEC certain Sat 10, 14:30. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 10, Children (0-12) EUR 8. [2022]
Classification:	Iron Mine Room and Pillar Mining
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=2 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	A.H.I Mairie de Hussigny, 1 rue Foch, 54590 Hussigny, Tel: +33-636-83-44-80, Tel: +33-382-44-40-16. 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

1874	Labbe des Forges de Gorcy receives a concession to mine Hussigny, and decides to mine underground.
1878	opening of the railway line Longwy-Villerupt.
1878	The great Godbrange concession is granted to a group of master blacksmiths.
1880	mining started.
1905	first strike of the industrial era in the Longwy basin.
~1914	introduction of compressed air.
1935	Côte Rouge open pit mine closed.
1954	Hussigny mine closed.
1955	consolidated operation of the mines Godbrange, Hussigny, and Tiercelet under a single management.
1967	open pit mining at Hussigny ends.
1969	first crisis hits the mine.
1978	mine closed.
1986	pumps turned off, mine partly flooded.
1996	Association d'Histoire Industrielle (AHI) restores the mine.
1999	guided tours started.

Geology

The mining followed an almost horizontal ore body, which was estimated 10 million tonnes of ore, grading at least 33%. It is surrounded by limestone and siliceous limestone. The operation used the room and pillar method, on an area 1,000 m x 750 m parallel passages, 8 m wide and 7 m high, were mined.

Description

The Mines de Hussigny-Godbrange are abandoned iron mines, which are kept in a safe state. They are maintained as a mining museum, but it seems the number of visitor is not sufficient to allow regular open hours. So the mine is opened on certain weekends in spring and autumn. Participants must register, the number of visitors is limited to 20 per tour. This mine is in its original state, so bring warm clothes, which may get dirty and sturdy shoes. The helmet with miners headlamp is provided by the organizers.

The ore was transported with heavy machinery, and during the decades the size of the machines increased. The museum has all kinds of machinery in working condition on the site, and it is possible to show how they work. The mine is entered by car, and starts with a ride to the mining front. This shows the size of this mine.