Guided mining train tour

The guided train tour is the most comfortable way to enter Podzemlje Pece, the former lead and zinc mine beneath Mount Peca, near Mežica in the north of Slovenia. The mine had its own railway system, as every large mine did, with narrow-gauge tracks laid through the galleries to carry ore from the working faces to the surface and miners to their workplaces. The visitor train uses the same kind of line, so you ride into the mountain as the miners did, seated in small carriages in the dim light of the tunnel, and the journey itself, with the rumble of the wheels and the cold air of the mountain, is part of the experience.

The tunnels here form part of a system that extends for hundreds of kilometres, and the train takes visitors well into the mountain, deeper than a casual walk could reach. At stops along the way, guides get passengers out to look at the galleries, the machines and the places where ore was dug. They explain how the deposit was found, how the ore was drilled and blasted, how it was loaded and carried to the surface, and how the work changed over time, from manual labour to mechanised methods. They also describe how the miners lived, with their long shifts, their traditions and the risks they faced, and the way the mine shaped the life of the Mežica valley for several centuries. Tours are given in Slovene, and also in languages such as English and German, which makes them accessible to many visitors.

Because the temperature in the mine stays low throughout the year, visitors should wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes, even on a hot summer day, and the cool air is welcome after a day in the sun. The train and the stops are suitable for families, groups and older visitors, as the walking is limited, though the floor is uneven in places. The tour takes a good part of a morning or an afternoon, and it is best to book in advance, especially in July and August and at weekends, as places are limited.

The train tour is one of several ways to see the mine. Other options include the Underground walking tour, Bike Tours through the galleries, Kayak Tours on the flooded levels and more general Mine Tours, and the programme is rounded off by the Miner's lunch with mulled wine, a hearty meal in the miners' tradition. The area around Mežica also offers walks on Peca, so visitors can combine the underground trip with a day outdoors.