Musée de la Mine de Blanzy

Musée de la Mine et des Hommes - Ancien Puits de Mine Saint Claude


Useful Information

Location: Blanzy
Open: 16-MAR to JUN Sat, Sun, Hol 14-17.
JUL to AUG daily 14-17.
SEP to 11-NOV Sat, Sun, Hol 14-17.
[2012]
Fee: Adults EUR 5, Children (10-18) EUR 2.50, Children (0-9) free.
Groups (15+) Adults EUR 3.20, School Pupils EUR 2.40.
[2012]
Classification: MineCoal Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours: D=2 h, V=13,000/a[2008].
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Association La Mine Et Les Hommes, 34 rue du Bois Clair, 71450 Blanzy, Tel: +33-385-682285, Fax: +33-385-681665. E-mail: contact
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

1761 mine operated by François de la Chaise.
1776 mine operated by Roettier de la Tour.
1777 mine operated by Desgrange-Happey-Joly et Cie.
1779 mine operated by Renard et Cie.
1782 mine operated by François de la Chaise again.
1786 mine operated by the royal foundry of Montcenis.
1789 during the French Evolution operated by Pourtalès-Perret-Desplaces et Cie.
1818 mine operated by Jules Chagot.
1826 mine operated by Chagot-Bassano-Perret.
1856 mine operated by Compagnie des Mines de Houille de Blanzy Chagot et Cie.
1882 Saint-Claude shaft closed.
1900 mine operated by Société Anonyme des Houillères de Blanzy.
1946 with the décret de nationalisation all coal mines are nationalized, mines of the Loire are managed by the Société des Houillères du Bassin de Blanzy.
1969 all coal managements of central and south France are merged.
1970 abandoned machinery collected by the mines and the city for the future museum.
1978 museum opened to the public under the name Écomusée Creusot-Montceau.
1981 headframe relocated to this place from the Pré Long mine at Montceau-les-Mines.
1982 engine room built and hoist installed.
1983 railroad tracks laid.
1987 entrance building completed.
1988 underground tour opened.
1992 underground mining in the area ends.
2000 surface operation ends.

Geology


Description

The Musée de la Mine de Blanzy is dedicated to the coal mining of the Loire basin. The sedimentary rocks here have coal seams which were mined underground. The museum offers the renovated surface buildings and the headframe of the former puit Saint-Claude (Saint-Claude shaft).

The underground tour starts with an elevator ride into the mine, a ride on the mine train for several hundred meters, and a walk through the mine. The tunnels are equipped like a typical working mine, with tools and machinery and the contemporary lining. The different departments of the underground museum start with the 1960s mining technology and go back to the early days of the min.