Musée des Mines de Fer d'Aumetz

Écomusée des mines de fer de Lorraine

Useful Information

Location:	25 rue St Léger de Montbrillais, 57710 Aumetz. At Aumetz. Motorway A30 Metz-Longwy, exit Aumetz. (49.422209, 5.949362)
Open:	MAY to SEP Tue-Sun 14-18, last entry 16. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children (6-18) EUR 5, Students EUR 3. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 8, Children (6-18) EUR 4. [2023]
Classification:	Iron Mine Écomusée
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Musée des Mines de Fer d'Aumetz, 25 rue St Léger de Montbrillais, 57710 Aumetz, Tel: +33-382-857655, Fax: +33-38445-10. 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

1900	mine Bassompierre opened.
1983	mine Bassompierre closed.

Geology

Description

The Musée des Mines de Fer d'Aumetz is located at the abandoned iron mine Bassompierre north of the village Aumetz. This is a rather modern mine, with a modern pit head, which was nevertheless declared a Historical Monument. It is possible to climb the pit head and have a look from its platform 35 m above ground. This 360° view of the rather flat Pays Haut (High Country) landscape is unique. The underground of this mine is not accessible, the tour concentrates on the mining machinery on the surface. All buildings which belonged to the closed Bassompierre mine are accessible. There are compressors, forges and extracting machines for the use underground. The former forge in its original state as well as the impressive hoisting machine hall with the 40 ton Alsthom engine which powered the elevator.

A recent addition is the boarding place of the miners. The cages of the elevator had two different levels. While the upper level on the surface was loaded or unloaded with mine train carts, the lower level was used to transport miners in and out. So the miners had to walk down a staircase and wait at the lower level. Unfortunately, the elevator itself as well as the shaft below do not exist any more. It seems the shaft was filled in for security reasons. As a result, this passage was forgotten for 30 years, probably also filled in. A unique fresco illustrates the miners' work.

The iron ore played an important role during both World Wars, so it is rather obvious that there are numerous military exhibits, so close to the Maginot Line that the fortifications are visible from the pit head. There is a production line for liquid oxygen cartridges and a machine to weave slow fuses. And there is a German V1 flying bomb from World War II.

The tour is audio-guided and animated The screening of an archive film about the history of the mines rounds off the visit.