In Zlate Hory, you can encounter the history of gold mining in three different ways: as a hands-on activity at the open-air museum, as a collection at the town museum, and as traces in the landscape. These differences can help you choose what to do. If you want to look at processes and technology, you will find different points of interest than if you focus on minerals, mining models, or historic landforms.
Try Gold Mining and See How It Worked
Zlatorudné mlýny is a medieval open-air mining museum on the Olešnice River near the municipality of Zlaté Hory, in the Údolí ztracených štol. You can try panning for gold there using the supplied gold pans; check before your trip whether this activity is available.
The museum includes fully operational replicas of gold mills powered by water, based on 14th-century models. A stamp mill is used there to crush gold ore. This brings together hands-on activities and technical reconstruction: you can take part yourself by panning for gold, while the mills illustrate one stage of ore processing.
Town Museum and Archaeological Heritage
The Městské muzeum Zlaté Hory is housed in the Stará pošta, considered the finest building in the Zlaté Hory urban conservation area. The museum presents local gold and ore mining through relevant exhibitions, an extensive mineral collection, and models of medieval and more recent mine tunnels. The minerals and tunnel models add two specific perspectives to the subject: the finds and the underground workplaces.
The Stará pošta was built in 1698 as the first post office in what was then Silesia. Another aspect of the cultural heritage is Edelštejn in Zlaté Hory, which is classified as an important archaeological site.
Circular Trail with Traces in the Landscape
The Zlatohorská hornická naučná stezka is a 16-kilometre circular trail with 15 information stops, starting and ending in Zlaté Hory. Along the route, you can see depressions formed by collapsed mine tunnels, as well as heaps of stones left by people who washed material from gold-bearing streams. The 15 information stops and the 16 kilometres describe two different aspects of the tour: its thematic layout and the length of the complete circuit. As route conditions can change, check the latest trail information before setting out.
Visits and Practical Information
Advance booking is required to visit the Poštovní štola. Make arrangements for this in advance and check the latest visitor information before your visit. The Poštovní štola was declared a cultural monument in 1994. The dates refer to different points of reference: the 14th century is the model for the mill replicas, 1698 is the year the Stará pošta was built, and 1994 is the year the Poštovní štola was declared a cultural monument.
The Zlaté Hory municipal tourist information centre sells stamps, souvenirs, postcards, maps, and regional products. If you are looking for a particular item, check its current availability in advance.
Discover more destinations: Černá Voda, Supíkovice, Bílá Voda, Bílá Voda U Javorníka, Kobylá Nad Vidnavkou, Česká Ves, Uhelná, Rejvíz
See the wider travel overview: Okres Jeseník.
