Medvednica Nature Park: The Restored Zrinski Mine

The Zrinski Mine is located within Medvednica Nature Park, a protected area of the eponymous mountain range. It was open to visitors almost two decades ago and this year it was restored. The mine started operating in 16^th century, after galena, an ore which contains silver, was found in the area. This is when the exploitation started; some thirty miners were taking shifts of 10 to 12 hours digging out the precious ore manually. But their hard work gave limited results; as much as a ton of galena had to be smelted in order to get only half a kilogram of silver. Therefore, the owners of the mine, the Zrinski family, decided to close the mine in the middle of the 17th century.

It stayed closed until 2004 when it was made available to visitors as the first such mine in Croatia. Just two years after the opening, this mine was named a protected tourist asset of the Republic of Croatia due to its value.

In this year’s restoration works, which cost 190 000 EUR, the entire interior was reconstructed, old statues and sculptures were renovated and some new were added. The mine also received additional visual and sound effects and the lighting was arranged in line with eco standards. The tour of the mine lasts around half an hour and it provides an opportunity for visitors to find out more not just about the mine, but also about the hard life of miners in the Middle Ages.

Tours can be organised for groups and individuals with prior announcement but exclusively with a licensed guide. Since the temperature in the mine is 12 degrees throughout the year, warm clothes in layers and suitable footwear are recommended when visiting, even during summer.

Medvednica Mountain and its summit Sljeme are a popular excursion site connected with the city with a cable car.

Heading image: Lice grada