Rudnik Zrinski

Zrinski Mine (Rudnik Zrinski) is a historic silver mine hidden in the forests of Medvednica above Zagreb, now open to visitors as Croatia's only show mine set inside a once-operating underground shaft.

Where did the mine come from?

The story begins in the 15th century, when King Matthias Corvinus granted nobleman Peter Zrinski a royal mining privilege, allowing his family to extract gold, silver and iron on their estates. In the 16th century, galena – a lead ore containing traces of silver – was discovered at a spot known as the Miners' Garden (Rudarski vrt). That find gave birth to the mine, which took its name from its owners, the Zrinski family.

What was life like for the miners?

Conditions were brutal. Around thirty miners worked shifts of 10 to 12 hours, hacking out ore by hand with hammers, wedges, pickaxes and shovels, lit only by oil lamps and wax candles. Despite the effort, yields were poor: it took roughly a ton of galena to extract just half a kilogram of silver. That thin margin led the Zrinski family to close the mine by the mid-17th century.

What can you see there today?

After centuries of neglect, the mine was restored through a project launched in 2002 by Medvednica Nature Park, with the visitor route opening in 2004. In 2006, the site was registered as a protected cultural monument of the Republic of Croatia. Walking through today, you pass through cool stone passages that hold a constant temperature of around 12°C year-round. The interior has been fitted with reconstructed scenes of medieval mining life, with figures in period costume showing miners at work underground. Visits last about 30 minutes and are guided only, with every visitor issued a protective helmet at the entrance.

How do you get there?

The easiest approach is to take the Sljeme cable car up from Zagreb, then walk from the Tomislavov dom mountain lodge along trail no. 26 toward the Grafičar hut, from where a path leads on to the mine entrance. The walk runs through forest and connects to Medvednica Nature Park's wider trail network, so it's easy to pair the mine visit with a longer hike on the mountain.

When should you go?

The mine is open to visitors from April to December, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, between 10 am and 4 pm. Outside those days entry isn't possible, so it's worth planning ahead, especially if the trip is combined with a day out on Sljeme.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a visit to Zrinski Mine take? A standard guided tour lasts about 30 minutes.

Do I need my own equipment? No – protective helmets are provided on site, and visits are conducted in groups with a guide.

Is the mine open all year? No, the season runs from April to December, with visits only possible on weekends and holidays between 10 am and 4 pm.

What's the easiest way to reach the site? The simplest route is the Sljeme cable car from Zagreb, followed by a walk along trail no. 26 from Tomislavov dom toward Grafičar.