OBSERVE THE MINERAL WEALTH AND HEAR THE STORIES OF MINERS.
The Sitarjevec mine serves as an outdoor classroom for natural sciences and history .
It arouses curiosity and offers a unique experience, while at the same time awakening awareness and affirming the values of our heritage, which is becoming world-renowned.
MINE EXPERIENCE.
Find out more about the mining profession when the mine was still opened and listen to stories and anecdotes of former miners. You will be able to see the statue of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners, a vast collection of tools used when the mine was closing down, an example of an almost vertical excavation field with an undiscovered barite vein, a reconstruction of wooden supports, a reconstruction of rails with a mine cart, a collection of rocks and ores from Sitarjevec, a paleoenvironmental reconstruction, photo panels of bats residing in the mine and a showcase of hematite ore.
EXPERIENCE:
TRADITIONAL EVENTS.
TORCH WALK
The traditional torch walk happens every December 4th, on St. Barbara’s name day. Illuminated by thousands of tiny lights, Litko and goblins await the hikers who begin their journey in the old town centre and end it at the mine.
MINERAL NATIVITY SCENE
In December, visitors can be amazed by a unique nativity scene made out of minerals. The special nativity scene can be found in the mine’s hall.
LIVE NATIVITY SCRENE
…is another special feature of Litija’s festive events held in December. Visitors can enjoy the Christmas story played out on the plateau in front of the mine’s entrance.
EXPLORE
The mine has been operating since the Middle Ages. We know from archival sources that the mining judge (“Unterbergrichter”) for Dolenjska was based in Šmartno pri Litiji, which speaks of the great importance of the mine, as Šmartno was only a small village at that time. The preserved tombstone of Christoph Bruckerschmied from 1537, which is nowadays stored in the Church of St. Martin in Šmartno pri Litiji, most likely represents a mining judge and not a mining master, as was claimed until recently.
LITIJA SILVER COINS
In 1886, Litija’s smelter managed to successfully extract silver, which appears in small quantities in lead ore. They sent 3.6999 kg of silver to the Vienna State Mint, where they turned it into commemorative silver coins – Litija silver coins. The front depicts the smelter, the train, the Church of St. Nicholas, the Sitarjevec hill and the mining cable car which led to the smelter. The other side holds the name of the mine with the symbolic inscription “first silver look”.
THE SITARJEVEC MINE
GALLERY
ADDRESS
Sitarjevška cesta 46, Litija 1270
PHONE
+386 51 312 739
+386 70 700 484
info@visitlitija.si
USEFUL
Good to know:
- Tours for organized groups are available anytime, however, prior booking is required because the mine is only accessible via a guided tour.
- The tour is suitable for everyone, including mobility-impaired persons, since the tunnel has no slope.
- The tunnel has a constant temperature of 10 ° C and 100% humidity.
- Every visitor receives a helmet for personal safety. We recommend warm clothes and comfortable footwear.
- Depending on your wishes, you can experience a gastronomic adventure and be served various special dishes in the tunnel.
- The tour is approximately one hour long.
- Applications are accepted until all the places for a particular time slot are filled.
Opening hours:
- Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 18:00,
- Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00,
- Sundays from 15:00 to 18:00.
How to find us:
- Travelling by car: kraji.eu/city_distance/litija/ljubljana/slo
- Travelling by train: www.slo-zeleznice.si/sl/
- Travelling by bicycle: www.sloveniaholidays.com/kolesarske-poti/ob-savi-od-litije-do-ljubljane