Museum of Mining – Pernik
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Is it possible to go into a mine without being a miner? The answer is yes – if you visit the only underground mining museum on the Balkan Peninsula. In the center of Pernik, the city of black gold, lies an underground museum.
The first dig of the first Bulgarian mine, which now houses the museum, was made in 1891. It is in operation until the 1960’s, when its resources are finished.
The museum is housed in two mining galleries, 630 m in length, showing about 30 expositions, presenting the development of mining in Bulgaria. The development of the coal mining technique is followed by authentic exhibits. Various reinforcement and lighting facilities are featured.
You may see also the development of transport equipment – locomotives and passenger coaches.
The museum has a multimedia room where presentations are made and where the first documentary about Pernik is presented. The museum is part of the 100 national tourist sites of the Bulgarian Tourist Union.
You can enter only with a guide, with a group of no more than 20 people. The tour takes about 40 minutes and at the entrance you will get helmets. Please take a jacket with you because the temperature inside is about 0 Celsius.
Near the entrance is located a fossilized tree of more than 50 million years. It is called “a tree of happiness”. Upon entering the mine, miners have touched it for happiness and luck.
Photo: Dian Nikolov