Under the picturesque, green surface of the Kłodzko Land there is a second, dark and fascinating world – a labyrinth of corridors, adits and chambers that tells the story of the gold rush, human determination and wealth that has shaped the fate of this land for centuries. Mining in the Kłodzko Valley – History of Gold and Silver Mining is a story much older than the greatest castles and health resorts. This is the foundation on which the power of the region was built, a source of legends about hidden treasures and a testimony to the extraordinary craftsmanship of ancient miners.
As the hosts of “Gołąbek”, living in a land literally filled with traces of ancient mining activities, we feel obliged to be your guides to this underground heritage. We have created the ultimate compendium for you. We will take you on a journey from the ancient mines and the mysterious Walloons, through the apogee of medieval mining. class=”ng-star-inserted”>, tocontemporary museums and underground tourist routes that allow you to touch this extraordinary history today.
Why Kłodzko Land? The geological treasury of the Sudetes
The Sudetes are one of the oldest and most geologically diverse mountains in Europe. Millions of years of orogenic processes, volcanism and erosion have brought rocks rich in Mendeleev’s extraordinary table to the surface. The Kłodzko Land, and in particular its eastern borders (Golden Mountains, Śnieżnik Massif, Bialskie Mountains), has become a real eldorado for seekers of precious ores and minerals.
The Walloons and the Secret Books: The First Treasure Seekers
Long before organized mining, mysterious wanderers from Western Europe – the Walloons – came to these mountains. Already in the early Middle Ages, these masters of the art of finding deposits explored the Sudeten valleys and streams in search of gold, silver and precious stones. They were extremely secretive and recorded the locations of their discoveries in encrypted “Walloon books”. Their activity is the era of semi-legendary ancient mines – small, shallow shafts and washers, the traces of which can still be found today by a trained eye.
Złoty Stok – The Capital of Gold and Arsenic: The Apogee of Medieval Mining
If any place is a symbol of the mining power of the Kłodzko Land, it is undoubtedly Złoty Stok. Already in the 13th century, organizedmedieval gold mining began here, and the city quickly became one of the most important mining centers in Silesia.
-
The power of the Fugger family: In the 16th century, the mines in Złoty Stok were taken over by the Fugger family – the most powerful family of bankers and industrialists in Europe at that time. They used the latest technologies, and mining reached its peak. It is estimated that over 700 years of activity, over 300 km (!) of galleries were excavated from the local mountains and approximately 16 tons of pure gold were extracted.
-
Arsenic – White Death and Source of Wealth: Paradoxically, in later centuries the by-product – arsenic – turned out to be much more valuable than gold. Złoty Stok has become a world leader in the production of this white powder, used in medicine, for wood impregnation, and also as… a popular poison.
Silver Mountain – Fortress Guarding the Silver Veins
The name Srebrna Góra is not accidental. Already in the 14th century, rich deposits of silver ore were discovered here, which attracted miners and gave rise to the city. Although the local mining never reached the scale of Złoty Stok, it was so significant that in the 18th century, Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, decided to secure this strategic and rich region by building the largest mountain fortress in Europe – the famous Srebrna Góra Fortress.
Not Just Gold and Silver: Other Mining Treasures
Uranus in Kletno – Dark Mystery of the Cold War
After World War II, uranium deposits were discovered in the Śnieżnik Massif, near the village of Kletno. In the years 1948-1953, in a top secret operation, under the supervision of the Soviet Union, a mine was opened here. Uranium ore was mined in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, without appropriate safeguards, and all of it went to the USSR as a key component of the Soviet nuclear program. This is a dark and forgotten chapter in the history of the region.
Mining Heritage Today: Contemporary Museums and Underground Routes
Fortunately, the history of mining has not disappeared underground. Today we can discover it thanks to fantastically prepared tourist routes.
-
Gold Mine in Złoty Stok: An absolute “must see”. It is one of the best-developed modern mining museums in Poland. During the tour we will see, among others: “Gertrud’s Adit” with an exhibition of maps and tools, “The Walk of Death”, we will meet a nice gnome and go down to the only underground waterfall in Poland. The biggest attraction is the Underground Boat Trip along the flooded corridors.
-
Underground Tourist Route in Kletno: The part of the former uranium mine open to the public is an extraordinary place. There are no multimedia or great attractions here, but there is the raw atmosphere of a real tunnel. The greatest treasures here are the beautiful, colorful infiltrates of minerals – purple fluorite, amethysts, malachite – which shimmer in the light of flashlights.
-
Mining Museum in Nowa Ruda: This is, in turn, a tribute to the tradition of hard coal. Here you can see powerful mining machines, learn about the realities of work “at the face”, and the biggest attraction is a ride on an authentic underground mining railway.
“Gołąbek” – Your Base Camp to the Underground World
Discovering the mining past of the Kłodzko Land is a fantastic idea for a thematic journey. “Gołąbek” in Stronie Śląskie is ideally located for this purpose. We are just a few kilometers from the underground route in Kletno. Getting to Złoty Stok along picturesque roads through the Złote Mountains is a trip in itself. Our facility is a peaceful haven from which you can set off on daily expeditions deep into the earth, and after returning, in peace and comfort, plan your next adventures and absorb the extraordinary history that lies right under your feet.
