La Thuile Mine

Via dell'Argento

Useful Information

Location:	Starting points at the hamlets Buic, Preyllon and Les Grange. (45.716904, 6.959407)
Open:	no restrictions. [2021]
Fee:	free. [2021]
Classification:	Coal Mine, Silver Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Tourist Information Office, Pza Porta Prætoria, 3, 11100 Aosta, Tel: +39-0165-236627, Fax: +39-0165-34657. E-mail: 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

16th century	written mention of coal and silver deposits.
19th century	first coal mines opened.
1920s	La Thuile becomes a mining town.
1950s	heydays of the mines.
1966	mines closed.

Geology

Description

La Thuile Mine is not a show mine, at least not the kind with helmet, lamps and an underground tour. The slopes of the Cole della Croce, above the suburb La Thuile, are full of mining remains, including mine railways, tunnel mounds, hoists, and ruins of the shelters used by the miners. The area has eight walking trails of different degrees of difficulty and length, which lead to the numerous remains. The shortest is only half an hour walk, the longest more than 4 hours. The trails are well-marked with trail number and each route has its own colour and there are educational signs in Italian, French, and English, so it is rather simple to do the walks on your own. If you prefer a guided tour, you should make a reservation with zerovertigo mountain guides. For obvious reasons the trails make only sense during summer and early autumn, though you could do some with skis during winter too. However, the visit is always weather depending.