Zrinski mine

Mysterious underground of Medvednica

Zrinski mine – the first mine in Croatia opened for visitors

Working hours of Zrinski mine
Saturdays / Sundays: 11 – 17 h

Miner's garden

On Medvednica there is an area known by the name “Miner's garden”. This area is abundant with various formations such as underground corridors, cuttings, waste tips, trails and openings which tell us people used to mine here.

Zrinski mine

In 1463 King Matija Korvin issued a royal mining privilege to count Petar Zrinski, which gave him and his descendants the right to open mines of gold, silver and other metals. This privilege served the family Zrinski for mining on Medvednica, in the area of Miners' garden.

In 1527 Petar's descendant, Nikola Zrinski, signed a contract with people of Zagreb which gave them the right to mine, and thus begins the history on mining in Zrinski mine. History kept the records on two citizens of Zagreb , Matija Crnoberski and Jakob Gašparin that mined here in the beginning of 17 century for over two decades. Years – long labor of many miners resulted in 150 m of corridors through which you can take a stroll today.

Medieval mining

There are a few records on mining in this area. It is well known that European miners, in their everyday practice, used the knowledge described by Georgius Agricola in his famous book “De Re Metallica”. In this book, which was often called “The Bible” of mining and metallurgy, Agricola translated his ample experience acquired in German mines.



The book “De Re Metallica” served the Public institution “Nature Park Medvednica” for reconstruction of medieval mining scenes, and to evoke the miners' appearance, clothes and tools of those times. Statues of miners in their natural size are the work of Damir Pavelić, forestry engineer. The authentic appearance of medieval mine is completed by sounds of dripping water, pick blows in the rock, creaking of wooden wheel-barrows, and muffled conversations of miners.

Galena

Zrinski mine used to be a mine of lead – zinc ore. This ore abundantly contains a mineral galena or lead – glance, in which silver is integrated. The name galena comes from Greece word gal – to shine. While you walk through the corridors of the mine look carefully at the rocks that surround you. Shiny galena appears in it as a tangle of irregular veins, spatters, or lenses, and it is easily noticeable.



Geology of Zrinski mine

Saint Barbara

The work in the mine was very hard. Darkness, high moisture and dust were miners' everyday life. Before descending into the underground corridors, miners would come to a wooden chapel of St. Barbara, today's St. Jacob's chapel. Miners used to dedicate their prayers to their patroness, St. Barbara for the fear of fire, water rush, mine collapsing or accidents. At the end of the day they thanked her for fortunate exiting from the mine. If you listen very carefully, you can hear the whisper of ancient prayers:

“As I now descend into the dark bowels of the earth,
I beseech thee, sweet Barbara,
that I be kept safe from harm,
for it liketh me not
that I rush unbidden into God's presence.”

Curiosities

•  Many priests all over Europe used to keep the famous book “De Re Metallica”, by Agricola on the altars in their churches. Since the book was written in Latin, when needed, they would translate parts of the book to local mine owners or managers.

•  It is estimated that daily production of Zrinski mine was approximately 10 t of ore, in which there was about 5 kg of silver. It is presumed that about 30 miners daily worked in Zrinski mine.

•  Some Christmas tradition is connected to the St. Barbara's holiday. On St. Barbara's day (celebrated on December 4) in some parts of Croatia wheat is traditionally placed into bowls, which then sprouts, becomes green, and is therefore a Christmas decoration.

•  Jumping over leather is a traditional manifestation when miners mark St. Barbara's holiday, their patroness. It goes back to the very beginning of mining when young miners were accepted into miners' order by jumping over a mine's shaft. In that way they symbolically proved their fearlessness and readiness for hard miners calling. In time the shafts became too big, and they started to jump over leather which miners carried as an apron. This custom is maintained until today, and is even kept by students of Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum.

•  There are many legends and stories about secret corridors that lead from Zrinski mine to Medvedgrad, and to the St. Marko's church in Zagreb 's downtown. In 1935 Stjepan Dokušec wrote about it in his book “One thousand and one nights of our nation”.

•  In the middle ages it was considered a great sin and evil to take the ore from the ground. It used to be looked down on mining with despise since it was regarded that gold and silver corrupted men and forced them to do evil acts, while, for example, farming was glorified.

Mine's underground has been abandoned for a long time. There are no miners, their tools or things connected to their way of living. Public institution “Nature Park Medvednica” tried to bring back the ancient life of Zrinski mine, a part of our rich heritage and enlighten the hard life and work of our ancestors. With great respect to the generations of miners and everything they created, we invite you to discover a part of their secret! GOOD LUCK!




How to reach Zrinski mine?

By car: from Zagreb : take the Sljeme road to mountain house “Grafičar”.
from Zagorje: from Pila, pass by Hunjka, to mountain house “Grafičar”.
By cable – way: from the top follow mountain trail no. 26 in the direction of “Žensko sedlo” to mountain house “Grafičar”.
On foot: from “Šestinski lagvić” to the entrance of the mine leads a mountain trail, which in its lower part – up to Kraljičin zdenac, is adapted as an educational geological trail (Miroslavec trail).

Working hours of Zrinski mine
Saturdays / Sundays: 11 – 17 h
On work days by appointment with the Institution.
Tour of the mine, with expert guidance, lasts about 30 min.

Entry tickets for Zrinski mine:
Children: 15 kn
Students and Seniors: 20 kn
Adults: 25 kn
Organized groups: 15 kn
Family: 50 kn

Souvenirs:
Pendant with a sample of galena 12 kn
Female long sleeve T-shirt with picture of Zrinski mine 80 kn
Male long sleeve T-shirt with picture of Zrinski mine 90 kn

Advice for the visitors:
Sports clothes are advised. Temperature in the mine is about 12°C, and it is necessary to prepare layered, warm clothes. Helmets are provided for all visitors. We do not recommend persons with claustrophobia entering the underground area.

Renovation of Zrinski mine was made possible with the help of:
Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Environment Protection, Physical Planning and Construction, City of Zagreb, Croatian National Tourist Board, Zagreb Tourist Board, Faculty of mining, geology and petroleum, Prominis group, Geomid, Viadukt, Tempo, Hidrel, Hrvatske šume t.d., Diners, Elikom