The mining museum also featured a former miners' changing room. (source: Jana Wurstová)
Slovakia has lost a unique attraction, the Upper Nitra Open-Air Mining Museum in the village of Cigeľ, near Prievidza, has been forced to close permanently after 21 years, right in the middle of the summer tourist season. The reason for the sudden move was the accumulation of a large amount of water underground, which complicated the facility's operations and posed a risk to visitors, writes My Horná Nitra, a sister publication of The Slovak Spectator.
The unique attraction documented the life and work of people in this traditional mining region. With no similar museum nearby, the closure marks the end of an era for the local mining community.
The museum was operated by the Združenie na záchranu baníckeho dedičstva Hornej Nitry (Association for the Preservation of Mining Heritage of Upper Nitra) and opened to the public in July 2003. It was a popular attraction, though visitor numbers were limited by the availability of tour slots, as every visitor needed to be accompanied. Around 60,000 people visited during its operation.
"The museum was exceptional with its unique, authentic spaces of a real mine, which people can't see elsewhere. It replicated the journey of a miner into the depths," explained Michal Oršula, the director of the association, who worked in the Cigeľ mine for 30 years and guided visitors through the museum.
Visitors got a taste of life underground
During the tour, visitors experienced what it felt like for miners descending underground. The tour began in the miners' changing rooms and other surface facilities, followed by a two-kilometre ride on a mining train. It continued with a walking tour of the underground mining areas, ranging from 80 to 300 metres below the surface. Tours involved walking more than a kilometre through the mine.
Former miners guided visitors underground, showcasing the lives of miners with functioning equipment, educational panels, and audiovisual displays.
The museum aimed to celebrate mining traditions in the region in a unique way, preserving mining spaces as they were left after coal extraction had ended. It also gave people the chance to see the extreme conditions in which miners worked every day.
Safety first
However, after coal mining ended in the Cigeľ mine in 2017, it became increasingly difficult to maintain the underground spaces in a suitable condition for the museum, due to deteriorating geological conditions. The closure was an unfortunate outcome of this situation.
Although the museum was supposed to remain open until the end of the year, it was closed in early August due to safety concerns.
"This decision, although made during the tourist season, was necessary for the safety of all visitors," explained Adriana Siváková, spokeswoman for the Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza (Upper Nitra Mines Prievidza) company.
The primary issue was the large amount of water underground, which affected the museum's humidity, rail tracks, and electrical systems, and thereby the safety of visitors.
"This is the end of a great era, but there is nothing we can do. A mine is unpredictable," said Oršula.
While the museum will be closed, the premises will continue to be used as a water source for Prievidza's area heating system.
New mining museum
Efforts are also underway to preserve the mining heritage in the region. There are plans to create a new mining museum in Handlová. The local mining society and the town of Handlová are keen to maintain the area's cultural and technical mining heritage.
"The idea of creating a Mining Museum in Handlová was proposed by members of the local mining society in 2020. We are currently working closely with Hornonitrianske Mines Prievidza," said Vanda Matiašková from the Handlová town council.
The Handlová mine is considered suitable for a new museum due to its unique underground spaces, which meet high safety standards for visitors and museum operations.
