Lead and Zink mine Podzemlje Pece

Ready for hiking, biking or kayaking trough a mine? In kingdom of King Matjaž, who sleeps underneath the mountain Peca, you can have it all.

The Information Centre in Mežica gives the Geopark Karavanke a significant added value because it represents a central point or the heart of the Geopark. At the same time, it also serves as an important additional offer for showing the mine and museum in Mežica. It is a place where all visitors of the Podzemlje Pece Tourist Mine and Museum are welcome. Various events are organized in the multipurpose area: from interesting workshops for children to exhibitions and different events. Important information and videos about the Koroška region and the Geopark are shown on multiple monitors. A variety of snacks is also provided, and authentic souvenirs can be bought.

An adventure park with dinosaurs, King Matjaž, a mining area, and crystals you can climb on

There is a theme park in front of the mine, offering the possibility to travel millions of years back to the time of the dinosaurs, as well as back to the time of King Matjaž. 220 million years ago, this area was covered by a vast lake. By visiting the labyrinth of King Matjaž, you can learn more about this historical figure as well as read interesting stories about him.

Mine tour by train

Put on your mining equipment and take a ride on a genuine mining train right to the heart of the mine. Accompanied by an experienced guide, you then head for the tourist trail to find out more about the history of mining. Numerous exhibited objects reveal the everyday work and lives of miners. Upon request, a real miner’s lunch or breakfast can even be served.The entire tour lasts from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Mine tour by bicycle

Mountain bikes were made for trips on mountains but here you can go on a trip through a mountain. Accompanied by a guide, you travel on a path crossing abandoned and mysterious mining tunnels under the Petzen / Mt. Peca. An experienced guide safely takes you from one valley to another on the underground route that is more than 5 kilometres long. Get ready to experience an unforgettable adventure! The bike ride begins after you are greeted by your guide in front of the Karavanke/Karawanken Geopark Information Centre in Glančnik/Mežica. Together with the guide, you go to the point of entry to Igrčevo / Črna na Koroškem where you enter the mine. After the bike tour, you leave the mine in Breg in Mežica. There is a constant temperature of 10 °C in the mine. The entire tour takes about 2.5 hours. The age limit is 10 years. The mine bike tour is possible by prior arrangement only!

Mine tour by kayak

This special adventure begins in front of the Mining Museum in Glančnik in Mežica. Visitors board a real mine train that runs through the 3.5-kilometre long Glančnik tunnel to a sloping tunnel called Unionski Vpadnik. From here, you go down a flight of stairs (95 m) which leads to the water.
At this point, the visitors get the necessary personal protective equipment (neoprene shoes, life jackets, and mining helmets with headlamps). Special kayaks for three people already await you in the flooded tunnel. The guide takes the visitors to a small underground river leading to a magical underground lake which is almost 700 m below the surface. Here, visitors can enjoy the quiet and pristine water, as well as explore the underground labyrinth and the flooded tunnels and excavations. The entire tour takes four hours. A group can consist of up to eight people. The age limit is 10 years. Visitors must wear appropriate clothing and shoes. The average temperature in the mine is 10 °C. A kayak mine tour is only possible by prior arrangement.

www.geopark-karawanken.at/en/informat...

Black Hole Trail is designed to pose a challenge and offer an adventure to experienced mountain bikers. The trail is super technical, but there are some nice and flowy sections where a rider can rest and enjoy views of the black chambers. If parts of the descent prove too challenging it is easy to walk through them and jump back on the bike afterwards.

www.podzemljepece.com/si/main/black-h...