Mining in Kutná Hora facts for kids
Kutná Hora is a famous city in the Czech Republic. Long ago, it was one of the most important cities in the Bohemian Kingdom. This was because of the huge amounts of silver found there! People came from all over to dig for silver, making Kutná Hora a very rich and powerful place.
The Story of Silver Mining
Silver mining in Kutná Hora began in the late 1200s. No one knows the exact day or spot where it all started. Because of this, many exciting legends explain how the silver was found.
One popular legend tells of a monk named Anthony. He lived in a monastery in a place called Sedlec, near Kutná Hora. The story says that Monk Anthony found three shiny silver rods at the bottom of a hill. Imagine finding that!
Mining in Kutná Hora was at its busiest in the 1300s. Over hundreds of years, many mines were dug. However, only a few of these old mines still exist today. The last silver mine in Kutná Hora closed down in the 1600s.
Mining Technology and Tools
Mines were made of deep holes called shafts. These shafts went far underground, from about 20 to 150 meters deep.
Miners worked with very simple tools. They could only dig out about 50 cubic decimeters of rock in a six-hour work shift. Even with these basic tools, miners in the 1300s could reach depths of 400 to 450 meters! By the 1500s, the deepest mine was called the Osel (which means "donkey") mine. It went down an amazing 600 meters!
Exploring the St. George Mine
The St. George mine was found by accident in 1967. Workers were exploring the city's underground water system when they discovered it. At first, everyone thought they had found the legendary Osel mine. But after more exploration, they realized it was the St. George mine instead.
This mine started operating around the 1330s. It was used for mining silver until the late 1400s or early 1500s.
Today, visitors can explore a 250-meter-long tunnel of the St. George mine. But in total, there are more than 800 meters of tunnels and passages! As you walk through the 250-meter section, you can see many interesting things. These include tunnels leading to other levels of the mine, exploration tunnels, and even a part of the mine that is filled with water. You can also see pieces of old wooden drainage systems and wooden props. These props were used to stop the ceiling from falling in, keeping the miners safe.
