Basic Tour of the Václav Adit
Our guided tours begin at the historic Václav Adit, where visitors can experience the authentic atmosphere of a traditional gold mine. The Basic Tour showcases the very best of the Václav Adit, taking you up to 1,800 metres from the entrance and nearly 200 metres below the surface. Please note that the Via Ferrata is not included in this tour.
1. The first 400 metres of the tour take visitors through a low, gently sloping passage, much of which dates back to the 18th century, when mine tunnels were excavated with minimal cross sections to reduce the amount of rock that had to be removed. The following 500 metres must be crossed via wooden walkways suspended 20 to 50 centimetres above the water.
2. At the Lower Station, visitors can see part of a vein containing scheelite, a tungsten ore that fluoresces under ultraviolet light.
3. The next section of the tour, approximately 500 metres long, is travelled aboard a mine train. This brings visitors to the most spectacular part of the mine. At the historic Pepř Shaft Bank, you will see the mine's technical facilities, watch a short film about gold mining in the Jílové region, and explore an exhibition of historic drilling equipment.
4. The tour continues to the jewel of the Jílové mines, the Šlojíř Vein. Here, visitors can admire vast excavated chambers created where rich gold ore was once mined, as well as untouched rock pillars that still contain visible gold mineralisation. At the end of the tour, you can try your luck by searching for a piece of ore, perhaps even one containing gold. On the way back to the entrance, visitors will also learn about modern rock excavation techniques.
Map of the First Level of the Pepř Mine, Václav Adit
