Muzeum Górnictwa w Nowej Rudzie

About the museum

The Nowa Ruda Hard Coal Mine was closed for economic reasons at the beginning of the 1990s; in 1995 the last miners came up to the surface. Already a year later, in 1996, the Museum of Mining was opened on the site of the works, and the underground tourist route is called “Kopalnia Węgla” (Coal Mine).

The visit begins in the museum building, which houses four exhibition rooms: on coal, on the history of mining, on hazards (including carbon dioxide), and the former dispatcher’s room. The guide then leads visitors through the Lech adit to the underground workings, where machines and equipment have been left: a conveyor, a combine and a pneumatic hammer. Entry is through the adit, not a shaft. The route also includes a ride on an authentic mining railway.

On the site you can see the Lech shaft tower and the fans, and the legendary Duch Skarbnika (Treasurer’s Ghost) appears in mining stories. The visit lasts about an hour, and the temperature underground is 8–12°C. The offer also includes programmes for children and groups, guided tours in English and additional attractions.

Highlights

• Underground route through the Lech adit
• Four exhibition rooms on coal and the history of mining
• Ride on an authentic mining railway
• Lech shaft tower and ventilation fans
• Programmes for children and groups

Permanent exhibitions

• Sale wystawowe: węgiel, historia górnictwa, zagrożenia, dyspozytornia – Four rooms in the museum building on the formation of coal, the history of mining, hazards in the mine (including carbon dioxide), and the former dispatcher’s room.
• Podziemna trasa „Kopalnia Węgla” – Guided route through the Lech adit to the underground workings, with the machines left in place, including a ride on the mining railway.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Dawna Kopalnia Nowa Ruda

Admission & discounts

The ticket includes the guide’s service, the visit to the exhibition rooms and the underground, and the ride on the railway; booking is not required for individual visitors. Prices according to the price list published on the museum’s website (2025).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The car park at the entrance is marked for people with disabilities, and the area around the museum is level and paved. The underground route is only partly adapted for wheelchairs, and on some sections help from a carer is needed; the workings 45 m underground are entered through the adit, not by a lift. There may be uneven ground, slight gradients, low ceilings and poor lighting. The guide describes the space for blind visitors, selected exhibits (tools, rocks, uniforms) may be touched, and visits with guide dogs are possible. The museum has no guide who uses Polish Sign Language (PJM); a group may come with its own interpreter.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers programmes for children and families, including “Witaj przygodo”, “Gryfni gwarkowie”, “Zabawa w agenta” and “Mikołaj w kopalni”. There is no age limit for children.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at ul. Obozowa, on the grounds of the former mine in Nowa Ruda.

Amenities & dining

The toilets are in the museum building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit