Zlate Hory: Gold, Mining and Discoveries in Czechia

Zlate Hory combines the history of gold mining with engaging museums and an educational trail following the traces of earlier mining activity. If you would like to combine culture and outdoor activity on your trip to Czechia, you will find several different ways to do so here: an open-air museum by the river, historical collections in the town and a circular route with 15 information stations.

Gold Mining on the Olešnice River

The Zlatorudné mlýny open-air museum is located on the Olešnice River near the municipality of Zlaté Hory in the Údolí ztracených štol. It is designed as an open-air medieval mining museum. Gold pans are provided so that you can try panning for gold yourself. Particularly impressive are the fully functional replicas of water-powered gold mills from the 14th century. They also include a stamp mill used to crush gold ore.

Mining history is therefore conveyed not only through texts or display cases. The mills demonstrate a concrete technical aspect of gold extraction, while gold panning offers a practical activity of its own. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus your trip on such historical experiences, museum visits or hiking.

Town History and Mining at the Museum

The Městské muzeum Zlaté Hory is housed in the Stará pošta. The building is considered the finest structure in Zlaté Hory's urban heritage zone and was built in 1698 as the first post office in what was then Silesia. The building itself thus combines urban history with historical architecture.

At the museum, you can learn more about local gold and ore extraction. The exhibitions include an extensive mineral collection as well as models of medieval and more recent mine adits. The Poštovní štola was declared a cultural monument in 1994; advance booking is required for a visit. Edelštejn in Zlaté Hory is also classified as an important archaeological site.

Hiking the Mining Educational Trail

The Zlatohorská hornická naučná stezka is a 16-kilometre circular route that begins and ends in Zlaté Hory. With its 15 information stations, it combines physical activity with information about the region's mining history. Along the way, you can see depressions and piles of stones. They were formed by collapsed adits and by people washing material from gold-bearing streams.

The circular route thus offers a different perspective on Zlaté Hory from the museum and open-air site: the traces of the work are found in the landscape itself. The stated length helps you compare this excursion with shorter sightseeing visits or a more hiking-oriented day of travel.

Practical Information on Site

The Zlaté Hory town tourist information centre sells stamps, souvenirs, postcards, maps and regional products. If you would like to compare other destinations with Zlate Hory, you can also include Česká Ves, Bělá Pod Pradědem, Horni Lipova, Mikulovice U Jeseníku, Kobylá Nad Vidnavkou, Bílá Voda, Písečná and Bobrovník in your research.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Okres Jeseník.