Medvedia štôlňa


Useful Information

Location: Žiarska dolina, Žiar.
Motorway D1 exit Liptoský Mikuláš, turn right on road 18 towards Liptovský Hrádok, after 3.7 turn left to Smrečany and Žiar. Continue on road until you reach Žiarska dolina (Žiar valley).
(49.147562, 19.704361)
Open: All year daily 10-16.
[2020]
Fee:  
Classification: MineIron Mine
Light: headlamp provided
Dimension: L=550 m, VR=8 m.
Guided tours: L=400 m.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: yes
Bibliography: J. Botík (2004): Vyšná a Nižná Boca, Vlastivedná monografia, vyd. Lúč, Bratislava 2004, ISBN 80-7114-456-8, 203 s.
Š. Bubniak, J. Hlavienka (1989): Z dejín baníctva v Liptove, vyd. Rudné bane n. p. Závod Dúbrava, Martin 1989, ev. č. 611/89.
Address: Stanišovská jaskyňa, Tel: +421-907-703-444, Tel: +421-904-333-613, Tel: +421-948-013-143, Tel: +421-908-640-061. E-mail: contact
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

1285 first written mention of Liptov about the granting of mining privileges by Ladislav IV (*1262-✝1290) to Bohumír of Liptov Jana.
19th century Medvedia štôlňa started.

Geology


Description

Medvedia štôlňa (Bear's tunnel) is the only accessible historic mine tunnel in Liptov. It was built during the 19th century, when mining in Liptov experienced its greatest expansion caused by the coming industrial revolution. It was mined for pyrite (FeS2) which was mainly used for the production of sulfuric acid (H2SO4). But the amount of ore was lower than expected and the operation was unprofitable. The mine was closed soon after its opening and consists only of a single tunnel.

Mining in the Liptov area started with the so-called German colonization in the 13th century. The area was part of Hungary, and the Hungarian kings invited German experts which were called guests. The aim of German colonization was to increase the cultural and technological level of the country. The colonization mainly concerned the development of mining, metallurgy, metallurgy, but also glass and other production technologies. The Carpathian Germans inhabited mainly areas with ore liek the Slovak Ore Mountains, the High and Low Tatras, and also a part of the region of Upper Nitra called Hauerland. During the Middle Ages, gold was mined in Liptov in the Krivánská region, below the Kriváň peak. Mining ended in the 1990s, with the cessation of operations in Dúbrava, where antimony was mined. After the end of the Cold War it was much cheaper to buy raw materials from China.