Mining Museum Krásno

Krásno Mining Museum sits on the grounds of the former Vilém (Wilhelm) tin mine, right next to the village of Krásno in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It is one of the few places in Europe where visitors can still trace over a thousand years of tin mining history: the ground beneath Krásno and neighboring Horní Slavkov was long considered the largest tin deposit on the continent, and extraction here only came to an end in the 20th century.

Why does this museum exist?

When the last ore cart rolled out of the local shafts, regional authorities decided the story was worth preserving rather than letting the site fall into ruin. The former Vilém mine was converted into a museum that combines the surviving mining infrastructure with an accessible adit and exhibitions covering more than a century of extraction technology.

What will you see there?

The heart of a visit is the former mine site itself, where original machinery has survived, including a steam winding engine from 1897 — a rare surviving example of its kind still in this condition. A stretch of the old adit is open for walking tours, giving a direct sense of the conditions underground miners once worked in. A separate part of the exhibition covers the mine rescue service, showing the equipment and procedures used whenever accidents occurred underground. For many visitors, though, the highlight is the mining transport exhibition: a collection of locomotives and wagons of different types once used to haul ore up from below.

How do you get there, and what else can you do on site?

The museum stands directly on the grounds of Krásno, within easy reach of the larger town of Horní Slavkov, as well as Sokolov and Karlovy Vary, from which local roads lead into this old mining region. From spring through autumn, a narrow-gauge mining train also runs around the museum grounds, letting visitors cover the sizeable former mine site without a long walk — a good option for families with children or anyone short on time.

When is the best time to visit?

The museum operates seasonally, generally from spring until October, with morning and afternoon opening hours split by a midday break. It closes for winter, from November through February, so plan a visit between March and October, when the mine train is also running. Admission is inexpensive, and the train ride adds only a small extra fee, so a visit here won't strain a travel budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you actually go underground at the Krásno Mining Museum? Yes. A section of the former Vilém mine's adit is open to walk through, giving a real sense of what conditions were like for the miners who once worked there.

Is there a train ride at the museum? Yes, from spring to autumn a narrow-gauge mining train runs around the museum grounds, covering the former mine site.

Is the museum open year-round? No. The season runs roughly from March to October; the site is closed for winter between November and February.

How long does a full visit take? Seeing the exhibitions, walking the adit, and riding the mine train typically takes around two hours, so it fits comfortably into a day trip around the region.