Důl Michal

About the museum

The earliest history of the Michal mine is linked to the Austrian state’s efforts to support coal mining. In 1842 the state mining treasury opened a prospect in Michálkovice, and a year later it began sinking two shafts. The Michal shaft was named after Court Councillor Michael Layer. In 1856 the mine was bought by the Northern Railway of Emperor Ferdinand, which owned it until nationalisation in 1945.

The mine took on the form we know today during a large reconstruction in 1913–1915, when extraction from the surrounding smaller mines was concentrated there and electric drive replaced steam engines. The architectural solution is based on a model by architect František Fiala, a pupil of Otto Wagner. In 1916, 383,400 tonnes of coal were extracted from a shaft 671 metres deep. After 1945 the mine was renamed Petr Cingr, and extraction ended on 30 May 1993.

The site was taken over by the Ministry of Culture, and since 2000 it has been administered by the National Heritage Institute. The aim of heritage care was to preserve it as if the miners had just left, including the dirty walls, worn handrails and flaking paint. The tour passes through the tag office, the chain changing room, the lamp room and the winding house, as well as the engine room with its original equipment.

Highlights

• “Cesta havíře do práce” tour (The Miner’s Way to Work)
• chain changing room, tag office and lamp room
• engine room with original electric machines
• site preserved in its form from 1912–1915
• night tours with a miner’s lamp

Permanent exhibitions

• Cesta havíře do práce a zázemí – Tour route through the places a miner passed on arriving for a shift: the tag office, chain changing room, administrative building, lamp room, connecting bridge and winding house.
• Galerie – A separately accessible gallery in the mine complex; the visit takes about an hour.

Operated by

Národní památkový ústav

Admission & discounts

The price applies to the basic “Cesta havíře do práce” route and the facilities (90 minutes). Free admission for school supervisors, guides of organised groups, holders of the Na památky annual pass, the ICOMOS card, the culture-sector employee card and NPÚ free tickets. Payment is possible by card or in cash.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

A special educational tour with role-play demonstrations of mining work is prepared for nursery schools; children aged 6 to 17 pay the reduced entry fee.

Getting there & parking

The mine lies in Ostrava-Michálkovice, behind the zoo. A green hiking trail and cycle route M, which connects with route V, start at the mine.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Souvenirs are on offer.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Wedding ceremonies take place on the site; details are on the website.

Plan your visit