Le Grand Filon

Musée du Fer

Useful Information

Location:	La Minière, 73220 Saint-Georges-d'Hurtières. (45.510636, 6.280494)
Open:	Mid-JUL to AUG Tue-Fri, Sun 11-18. Sainte-Barbe: Mid-JUL to AUG Tue, Thu, Sun 13:30. [2023]
Fee:	Museum: Adults EUR 4, Children (6-16) EUR 2, Children (0-5) free. Museum and Saint-Louis: Adults EUR 8, Children (6-16) EUR 5, Children (0-5) free. Museum and Sainte-Barbe: Adults EUR 15, Children (8-16) EUR 11. [2023]
Classification:	Iron Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	T=8-10 °C.
Guided tours:	Museum: self guided. Saint-Louis: self guided, audiobook or booklet. Sainte-Barbe: D=3 h, MinAge=8.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	museum: yes. Mine no.
Bibliography:
Address:	Le Grand Filon, La Minière, 73220 Saint-Georges-d'Hurtières, Tel: +33-479-36-11-05. 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

1930	mine closed.

Geology

Description

Le Grand Filon (The Big Lode) is a museum dedicated to the iron mining in Savoy. This was once the center of the iron mining, located at the hamlet La Minière, which belongs to the small village Saint-Georges-d'Hurtières. The museum is visited on self-guided tours, the 200 m² exhibition space has four main topics. There are three films about the mining history shown, and a mineral collection. It's also possible to hike through the hamlet, see the school museum and the miner's chapel. This tour also includes an underground tour through the Saint-Louis mine gallery, which is level but not wheelchair accessible. This tour is short, mostly flat and suitable for all visitors. An audioguide or a booklet is provided. There are also guided underground tours into Sainte-Barbe Mine. With the walk to the mine, the 75 minutes underground, and the walk back, this tour takes three hours, requires some physical fitness, and the minimum age is 8 years.

The museum offers numerous tours, an escape room, special educational programs for groups and school classes. However, it seems there is no offer in any foreign language; the texts and tours are all offered only in French.