Hornický skanzen Žacléř

Hornický skanzen Žacléř is a coal-mining open-air museum in Lampertice, part of the town of Žacléř in the Czech Giant Mountains (Krkonoše), built on the site of the former Jan Šverma mine.

How to get there?

Lampertice lies right next to Žacléř, a small town on the Czech side of the Giant Mountains close to the Polish border. The museum occupies the grounds of a former coal mine, easily recognizable by the winding towers of the Jan and Julie shafts. Driving is the most convenient option — from nearby Trutnov, or from the Polish side around Kowary and Karpacz, the trip usually takes anywhere from fifteen minutes to under an hour. It makes a good stop on a tour of the eastern Krkonoše, close to the Sněžka massif.

What will you see?

Mining in the Žacléř area has a documented tradition going back to 1570, when prospecting and extraction of black coal was first permitted here. Underground mining continued almost without interruption for more than four centuries — the last shift went underground on 31 December 1992, when the mine was finally closed.

The open-air museum occupies the engine rooms and headframe buildings of two shafts, Jan and Julie. The engine room of the Jan shaft houses an exhibition documenting the history of mining at the Jan Šverma pit and at nearby quarries. Visitors can see how mine carts once moved across the surface of the former colliery, view a collection of historical mining maps, paleontological finds, and extensive photographic documentation from the mine's working years.

The museum's landmark is the 52-metre winding tower of the Jan shaft. From its top, visitors get a view over the eastern Krkonoše, the Sněžka massif, and the Rudawy Janowickie ridge with the Kowary crest on the Polish side — one of the few spots in the region combining industrial heritage with a genuine mountain panorama.

Since May 2018, visitors can also walk through the Jitřenka adit, roughly 100 metres long, where a real coal seam has been preserved. It shows several types of mining timbering and support used over the decades, and figures of miners at work bring the underground scene to life.

When to visit?

The museum is a seasonal, outdoor attraction, best visited in spring, summer, and early autumn, when the weather suits both the underground exhibits and the climb up the winding tower's viewing platform. It's worth setting aside enough time for the visit, since the view over the Krkonoše from the tower is as much a draw as the mining exhibition and the Jitřenka adit itself. Check the current opening hours before travelling, as an outdoor museum of this kind may run a limited schedule outside the main tourist season.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Hornický skanzen Žacléř located? In Lampertice, part of the town of Žacléř, on the site of the former Jan Šverma coal mine in the Czech Giant Mountains (Krkonoše).

How long did the mine that the museum now occupies operate? Coal mining in the area is documented from 1570, and underground mining in Žacléř finally ended on 31 December 1992.

What is the main attraction of the open-air museum? The historical exhibition in the Jan shaft's engine room, the view from the 52-metre winding tower over Sněžka and the Krkonoše, and the roughly 100-metre Jitřenka adit with a preserved coal seam, open to visitors since 2018.

Can you see a real coal seam at the museum? Yes — the Jitřenka adit contains an actual preserved coal seam, along with various historical types of mining support and figures depicting miners at work.