Štola Starý Martin

Stollen Alter Martin

Useful Information

Location:	Krupka, Krušnohoří (Ore Mountains), district of Teplice, Ústí nad Labem Region. (50.697289, 13.846714)
Open:	OCT to MAY Fri 11:30, 13, 14, 15, 16, Sat, Sun 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13, 14, 15, 16. JUN daily 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13, 14, 15, 16. JUL to AUG daily 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. SEP daily 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13, 14, 15, 16. Lunch break 12:30-13. [2020]
Fee:	MAY to SEP: Adults CZK 130, Children (5-15) CZK 50, Children (0-4) not allowed, Students CZK 80, Seniors (65+) CZK 80. Groups (15-20): per Group CZK 1,800. OCT to APR: Adults CZK 100, Children (5-15) CZK 40, Children (0-4) not allowed, Students CZK 50, Seniors (65+) CZK 50. Groups (15-20): per Group CZK 1,400. [2020]
Classification:	Tin Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	A=535 m asl.
Guided tours:	D=45 min, L=1,000 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Štola Starý Martin, Nová Vrchoslav, 41741 Krupka, Tel: +420-417-822-154, Tel: +420-724-260-711. E-mail: Tourist Info Krupka, Krupka, Tel: +420-417-803-131. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

14th century	beginning of mining.
1482	first written mention in the Krupský Horní Order.
1864	bought by miners Schiller and Lewald.
1916	part of the military operation Militarbergbau in Graupen.
1916	sold to the Škoda plant in Pilsen.
1920	Hugo Mautner became new owner and employed 120 miners.
1922	mine closed.
1939	reopened due to World War II.
1950s	mining in Martin gallery terminated.
1960s	excavation of Nový Martin exploration gallery west of the Starý Martin gallery.
1980s	new gallery closed.
1999	beginning of restoration.
2000	opened to the public as Prohlídková štola Starý Martin (Old Martin Show Mine).
2015	registered in the Register of the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic under number 105564.
2019	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Geology

The Lukáš vein was historically one of the most important ore veins in the entire Krupka district. It is 2 km long and was the longest tin ore vein in the territory of the Czech Republic and in Central Europe. It is 15 cm to 20 cm thick and is rich in cassiterite mineralization which has a tin content of several percent and various secondary minerals and ores.

Description

The Stola Starý Martin (Old Martin Tunnel) is a tunnel of the abandoned Starý Martin ore mine. It is one of numerous mines in the former mining district Steinknochen, which was once the largest mining area of Krupka. It stretched from north of Krupka to Komáří hůrky (Mückenberg). The show mine is located at the road from Krupka to Horní Krupka.

The Lukáš vein originally reached the surface, and the mining started at the surface and created huge open cast mines. At some point it was necessary to start underground mining to continue. The Stola Starý Martin mines the vein at a depth of 60–80 meters. It is also the adit of the mines, draining the water by gravitational flow.

The guided tour is underground in the Stola Starý Martin, at various locations important machinery and techniques are demonstrated. This includes the construction of tunnels, the reinforcement of the ceiling with different techniques, the mining and transport of the ore. There is an underground collection of historical objects and emblems of mining towns in the Czech Republic and an exhibition of minerals and rocks. At one point there are speleothems which were formed since the mine was first dug. The tour goes 500 m down the tunnel and then back to the surface. Sturdy shoes and warm clothing are recommended The tour is completed by an outdoor exhibition of mining equipment.