Podzemlje Pece
Tourist mine and museum of lead and zinc in Mežica, with rides on a mine train, underground cycling and kayaking.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The ore deposits between Peca and Uršlja gora (Ursula Mountain) have been known since Roman times; the first permit to mine lead ore dates from 1665, which is regarded as the beginning of mining in these parts. At the end of the 19th century the Austrian company Bleiberger Bergwerks Union bought up smaller mines and began systematic mining; in the 20th century the company Rudnik svinca in topilnica Mežica (Mežica Lead Mine and Smelting Works) was formed, with more than 2,000 employees. Over more than three centuries the miners excavated about 19 million tonnes of lead and zinc ore and dug out more than 1,000 kilometres of galleries. Production ended in 1994, and the lower parts of the mine were flooded.
The tourist mine and museum has been open to visitors since 1997. The museum is housed in the building on Glančnik, which the English owners of the mine built in 1928; the administrative offices were on the ground and first floors, and the supervisors’ flats on the second. The collections comprise minerals, including the best-known mineral wulfenite, fossils, mining measuring equipment, a museum set-up of a miner’s family flat and photographs by Maks Kunc of the fauna and flora.
The visit to the mine begins at the information centre of the Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark. A real mine train takes you along the 3.5-kilometre-long Glančnik gallery into the heart of the mine, where a guide presents the history of mining; the offer also includes underground cycling, underground kayaking and the Črna luknja (Black Hole) trail.
Highlights
- Ride on a mine train along the 3.5 km Glančnik gallery
- Mine museum with minerals, wulfenite and a miner’s family flat
- Underground cycling and kayaking in flooded galleries
- Information centre of the Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark
- Guided tours in Slovene, English, German, Italian and Russian
Permanent exhibition
- Rudniški muzej Mežica – Collections of minerals, fossils and mining measuring equipment, a display of a miner’s family flat and photographs by Maks Kunc.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Podzemlje Pece d.o.o.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €16Mine train tour: children and students €16; the minimum age for visiting the mine is 5 years. |
| Students & apprentices | €16Mine train tour. |
| Families | –Family ticket for the mine train tour: adults €21, children and students €12. |
| Mine train tour, adults | €21Children and students €16; family ticket: adults €21, children and students €12. |
| Underground cycling (bicycle included in price), at least 2 people | €45 |
| Črna luknja trail | €79From 1 November to 31 March: €65. |
| Underground kayak, at least 2 people | €55From 1 June to 30 September: €75; the price includes a miner’s snack; minimum height 150 cm. |
The admission ticket of €5 is for a visit to the museum. The price includes VAT. Price list valid from January 2026.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The minimum age for visiting the mine is 5 years; a family ticket is available, and educational workshops are also offered.
Getting there & parking
Guests coming from the direction of Ljubljana should note that the navigation sometimes leads along a shorter but steep and narrow gravel road through the village of Bele Vode.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The information centre has a shop.
Events & venue rental
The website mentions concerts, adapted experiences and educational workshops.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (SL, EN, DE, IT, RU) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The mine train tour lasts two hours or more; the temperature in the mine is 10 °C. Prior booking is compulsory. |
