EUROPEAN EXAMPLES OFMINING HERITAGE REGENERATION

LAB IN ³ RAŠA³VELENJE ³ I DR IJABANOVIĆ I ³ RYBN IK³CARBON IA

EN

E U R O P E A N E X A M P L E S O F M I N I N G H E R I TA G E R E G E N E R AT I O N

Labin, 2014

LA—BIN

LA—BIN

HISTORYTwo mine shafts, Vinež and Štrmac, were open in the area of Labin in the second half of the 19th century. The Vinež pit closed in 1928, and the mine in Štrmac followed in 1955. In 1920, under the Treaty of Rapallo, Istria joined Italy. Intensive stone coal exploitation in Labin area started during Italian rule. New settlements were founded and new mine pits open, infrastructure was built and improved, electrification and water supply system were under construction. In the early years of Italian rule a company called Società Anonima Carbonifera Arsa was established. The company invested in mine modernization, and as of 1930s the mines became part of the company Azienda Carboni Italiani, which reached its great-est expansion in the period of 1936—1940. In 1938, the head office building for mine management was built in Podlabin, with a pit, mine tower and associated build-ings near-by. In the period of 1940—1942, a new miners’ settlement, designed by Eugenio Montuori and called Pozzo Littorio (Podlabin) was built. The settlement con-sisted of three types of houses of different categories of comfort, intended for housing

Name of the mine: Podlabin ITA. Pozzo Littorio, Piedalbona

Town/Municipality: Labin

Country: Croatia

Legal status: Z–2719, protected cultural heritage

Type: Immovable cultural heritage, cultural—historical entity

UNESCO protection: no

Period: 20th century

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the managerial, supervisory and working personnel. In 1942, a record production of 1.158.000 tons of coal was achieved, with approximately 10.500 employees. After September 8th 1943 and the capitulation of Italy, the mine was operation at reduced capacity. Upon the end of World War II Istarski Ugljenokopi Raša (Istrian Mines Raša in Croatian) were of great importance for the rehabilitation and construction of the new Yugoslav state. After April 28th 1945 and the liberation of Labin, the production was organized in Raša and Podlabin shafts. For the purposes of the mine, 49 residential buildings, known as New buildings were built by the construction company Istra in 1948—1949. In 1951, a railway route Lupoglav—Štalije opened to traffic. In 1948, the biggest post-war accident occurred when methane explosion killed 86 miners. There were about 7.000 miners working in Istarski Ugljenokopi Raša in the 1950s, and in 1959 the highest post-war production was reached-860.000 tons of coal. During the 1960s, cheap oil caused coal crisis, and the huge stocks of coal caused a decline in production and the number of employees. Some ten years after that mine closure was proposed, however some mines managed to survive the crisis and continue to operate. The mine in Podlabin closed in 1988. The last mine in this area, in Tupljak, closed in 1999.

MINE DESCRIPTIONMining-industrial complex Pijacal is located in a part of a north-ern bottom of a hill on which the old part of Labin is situated. The complex consists of the mine tower with a covered corridor and the underground pit openings, architectural structure of the management building with the central changing room for the miners and their bathroom, lamparna (a room for miners’ lamps in Croatian), chemical laboratory, electrical workshop, machine workshop and storage area, ambulance and mortuary, followed by the main and auxiliary export machine, the old and new substations, compressor station, cooling system building, sand and technical gases storage area, locksmith’s, carpenter’s workshop and a heating plant located a bit northern.

CULTURAL AND TOURIST VALORISATIONThe process of devastating Pijacal and the surrounding build-ings started when the Podlabin pit closed. The mine was closed, the equipment was sold, the ground area of the mine was abandoned, and the entrance to the pit beneath the tower

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was closed and covered with concrete. In the early 1990s the cultural potential of the abandoned mine facilities was first recognized by the association Labin Art Express, which started the project Underground City XXI. The first stage in the realiza-tion of the project was the establishment of cultural-artistic centre Lamparna. During the 1990s the abandoned premises in Pijacal were purchased by the local private companies, which gradually restored the premises and start new kinds of busi-ness there (trade, production). While restoring, conservation guidelines were not respected. Therefore, certain areas got devastated. A new era in mining complex valorisation started when it was protected by the state. The entire complex is now protected as immovable cultural heritage. The town of Labin started the project of arranging the square under the mine tower and the near-by public library, thus continuing the revitalization of the mining heritage in Podlabin. In 2012 Pijacal was completely arranged and the new library in the former mining directorate premises was opened in 2013. These two projects set foundations for the further valorisation of the mining heritage in Labin.

SOURCE: Tullio Vorano: Istarski ugljenokopi — Četiri stoljeća rudarenja na Labinštini, Labin, 1997.

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rA—ŠA

HISTORY OF RAŠAThe first traces of mining activity in the district of Raša are from the 17th century. In 1626 the first known concession was released for the extraction of coal in the valley Krapan. Continuous production of coal took place in the 18th century with forty miners who were producing about 560 tons of coal per year. The overall industrialization and wide use of steam engine enabled a significant develop-ment of coal mines, therefore during the Austrian government the annual produc-tion increased to 90,000 tons. During this period Krapan has flourished with a num-ber of new objects built, both industrial and residential, all related to the mine. In 1905 the Church of St. Barbara was built in Krapan. St. Barbara was the patron of miners. Founding Krapan and drying out Krapan Lake created foundations for the establishment of Raša.

Raša, the youngest town in Istria was built in only 547 day because of the needs of the mine. It was one in a number of newly built-up towns (città di fondazione) during

Name of the mine: Istarski ugljenokopi Raša

Town/Municipality: Raša

Country: Croatia

Legal status: process of protection in progress

Type: Immovable cultural heritage, cultural—historical entity

UNESCO protection: no

Period: 17th— 20th century

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the Italian administration. The construction began in late April 1936 and in April 1937 most of the buildings were finished so the first tenants began to move in. Raša was officially inau-gurated on November 4 1937 in the presence of government ambassador Horst Venturi and king’s ambassador Duke of Spoleto and other numerous state officials. One year later a new municipality Raša was established.

Gustavo Pulitzer Finali, divided the town hierarchically to workers’ and officials’ part and main square. The function of the main square was to connect but also to divide those two parts. The workers’ part is dominated by houses with four two-room flats, each with a separate entrance and a garden area. The apartments for officials and managers are more comfortable and their heating system was enabled by hot water from town’s heating plant. The total of 96 houses was built. The town, planned for 2000−3000 inhabitants, included all the necessary facilities, the town hall and a police department, a primary school and a kindergarten, a post office, a café, a restaurant, a hotel, several shops, a cinema, a hospital, sports grounds and even a large outdoor swimming pool. The infrastructure was also remarkably well resolved: water supply system and sewage net, town lightning and

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asphalted roads, hot water in all objects. Mine administration was on periphery.

In the former Yugoslavia Raša was part of the municipality of Labin, returning its municipal status in the Republic of Croatia. After World War II a newly formed company Istarski ugljenokopi Raša gets a remarkable significance in the pro-cess of reconstruction and development of the country.

HISTORY OF THE MINEIn 1626 Filippo Veranzi got from Venetian Council of Ten a concession for the mines of minerals and resin in Labin and 4 miles radius. This information is considered to be the oldest document connected to mining in Labin area. This concession was for the area of Krapan and its surroundings. On August 14, 1785 began a continued coal production as evidenced by preserved mining documents. First buyer was the sugar refinery in Rijeka. The second part of the 19th century was fol-lowed by a breakthrough in the development of mining. Rapid industrialization of the Austrian economy required increasing demand for coal. In 1881 mines in Krapan and Vinež became

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a property of Trbovljansko rudokopno društvo headquartered in Vienna.

After World War I the area of Raša and Istria was part of Italy. In December 1919, the Società anonima carbonifera Arsa (General mining association Raša) was established. In 1920, the operation of the company was consolidated. A basic inventory of mine was made, as well as a plan for further develop-ment and increasing production. Closing the pits Vinež and Štrmac 1929 caused all production to be concentrated in the pit Carlotta. The period from 1936 to 1949 was the time of greatest expansion of the company. In 1939 over one million ton of coal was produced.

After World War II pit Raša produced about 50% of the total coal production in Labin. This period was characterized by large migration from various parts of former Yugoslavia. Immigrants, mostly male

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workforce, were employed in the mines. Last tons from pit Raša came out in 1966, when 67,700 tons of coal was excavated.

CULTURAL AND TOURIST VALORISATIONCultural-tourist valorisation of Raša and its mining herit-age begins in 1990s. Ivica Butković, a priest from Raša was collecting mining items and made a small mining collection that was placed in the church loggia. The Labin Art Express Association ran occasional actions related to the revitalization of the mining heritage of Krapan and Raša through artistic performances and a variety of events. Within the gallery A, located in the premises of RKUD Rudar occasional exhibitions are held related to mining theme. Following the program, the Association of Citizens Istarski ugljenokopi Raša based in Raša, promotes and explores the mining and industrial heritage of the Municipality of Raša.

Spatial plan of the Municipality of Raša and art-conservation basis for municipality created the basic conditions for cultural– tourist valorisation of mining heritage.

SOURCE: Tullio Vorano: Istarski ugljenokopi — Četiri stoljeća rudarenja na Labinštini, Labin, 1997.

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vele—nje

COAL MINE VELENJEThe coal mine Velenje is a company with an almost 140 year long history, with firm present and it is vigorously focused on the future. Since the end of WW II, the mine has paid great attention to modernization and introducing the newest technologies in coal production. A significant change in that field was made in 1988 when they switched from classic excavation to mecha-nized one. This was due to own knowledge and systematic searching for the most suit-able and most secure method for excava-tion of thick coal layers. Long wall mining method, known as Velenje mining method, that spread out the name of Velenje mine throughout the world, was introduced in 1952. Today, using the most contemporary technology, they are achieving remarkable production results that can be compared to other underground mines in Europe and world. According to the international re-viewers the Mine in Velenje is the referent mine of Western Europe and with its tech-nological knowledge it is placed amongst the top world technologies. Top electro-machinery is a result of years’ long develop-ment and native engineering knowledge.

HISTORYMany people, especially younger ones, do not know that in the past coal was the main source for producing electricity. Coal marked miners’ and their families’ lives,

Name of the mine /museum: Muzej premogovništva Slovenije, Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia

Town/Municipality: Velenje

Country: Slovenia

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enabling them to survive and formed the surroundings where they lived. Velenje is a town built on coal, from coal and be-cause of coal since it is providing habitants with bread for almost fourteen decades. The story about mining and miners from Velenje has been changing over time, but belonging to the profession still remains. The history of mining and mining class is presented at Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia that you definitely must visit. Who knows, maybe you’ll encounter a cave dwarf Bergmandeljac or a friendly hedgehog Ligi.

THE UNDERGROUND PART OF THE MUSEUMCompletely redecorated underground part of the museum allows you to experience the lives of miners who were going 160 meters below the surface for decades in order to dig out black gold needed for energetic purposes of Slovenia. Escorted by a tour guide you will enter the mine exactly like the miners did in the previous century. You will

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enter through the old shaft (Stari jašek) from 1888. Different scenes from miners’ lives and work demonstrated in 20 remarkable scener-ies and with 15 interesting puppets are being brought to life by contemporary audiovisual equipment. An hour and a half of exciting journey, along which you’ll get to know more closely the machinery of pits from the past decades and development of the Mine, will end with an underground train ride.

EXTERNAL PART OF THE MUSEUMMiner's life was once incomparable to his life today. They used to come back from work to their humble habitats. One of those habitats from the 30’s in the last century is possible to see at the external part of the museum. The precise development of Slovenian min-ing is shown in 10 sets. Did you know that in the 17th century coal was used under the name dragon blood by pharmacists to cure sick animals? Are you interested to know how coal used to be produced, how personal protective means developed and how res-cue team is organized? This is just a small part of numerous attractions you’ll see while exploring the external part of the museum.

VIRTUAL VISITYou can visit the Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia virtually too. 360 degrees images enable an interactive view of particular parts of the museum- checking room, the scene of Anton Aškerc, tower of the pit Škale and a panoramic view from the tower, geological tower of Šaleška dolina, Black locker room, miner’s apartment and other interesting scenes. Experience a virtual visit by seeing our web page muzej.rlv.si/si/virtualna-razstava.15

IDRi —ja

HISTORYIdrija, the oldest Slovenian mining town, was known for its mercury abundance that sig-nificantly influenced many events, not just nationally but also worldwide. Mine Idrija was for centuries among prominent middle European companies and had a significant role in international economic relations. Its significance was so important that the own-ers and management constantly needed to introduce the most contemporary technical machinery and improve technological pro-cedures. At the same time it was necessary to hire suitable experts. Therefore Idrija was in the past one of the centres of develop-ment of mining technique and metallurgy. It was connected to natural sciences boom and cultural progress on our parts. Mining in Idrija valley began after 1490 when mercury was discovered. According to the folklore, this precious liquid was first noticed by a legendary škafar (the maker of wooden bucket with two ears) that used to soak the bucket in the stream. Miners from Friuli and German speaking area dug and melted the ore even before 1500, but the finding of a rich cinnabar ore on June 22, 1508 enabled a huge development of mining. Together

Name of the mine: Mercury Mine Idrija

Town/Municipality: Idrija

Country: Slovenia

Legal status: Z–2719, protected cultural heritage

Type: immovable cultural heritage, cultural—historical entity

UNESCO protection: yes

Period: 20th century

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with expansion of the mine expanded also the community of Idrija. In the first decades in Idrija were dominating private entrepreneurs’ companies, who exploited the ore site, and who did not invest much in equipping the mine. After nationaliza-tion in 1575, when the mine came under the direct rule of the Habsburgs, followed an extensive expansion and modernization of the mine. Around 1600 a mine was fairly well equipped, and the mercury was exported over Venice, German cities and Amsterdam to the Middle East and South America. In 1607 the Viennese court set aside the Idrija territory from Tolmin district and established a special Idrija district which was led by the manager of the mine. Idrija grew into a town (bigger than a village and smaller than a city with characteristics of both) which in Valvazor times around 1690, had a population of 1,500 and 300 miners. Social and health conditions were disordered; miners often got sick of mercurialism. A significant rise Idrija experienced in the 18th century during Enlightenment. The town received city rights, and by the end of the century developed into the second largest city of the state of Kranj, with about 3600 inhabitants. Mine had increased through the merit of exceptional professionals (Steinberg, Mrak) and

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became modern. New shafts and levels were opened, more mining machines for pumping were built, the melting furnaces and transportation of wooden materials by waterways were improved and the first road to Vrhnik was built. Extra large boom the mine recalls during the ten-year contract with the Spanish for the sale of mercury (around 1790), when it employed 1,350 workers and was producing 600—700 tons of mercury per year. The ore contained at the time an average of 18% of mercury. Idrija mercury at that time covered one twentieth i.e. 5% of budget expenses of the Austrian Empire. In the 18th century Idrija began receiving an urban look. Investment in its development dictated to the Viennese court great significance of the mine. Monumental grain storage was built for the purposes of the mine, and Idrija received the first theatre building in Slovenia. Professional and folk schools were well organized as well as the health service. The famous natural scientist J.A. Scopoli, who was serving for 15 years (1754/1769) as the first doctor in Idrija, and his contemporary B. Haquet— a mining surgeon — laid in Idrija the foundations of natural sciences. Also in the 19th century up to the First World War, the Idrija mine preserved a prominent place among the most profitable state-owned enterprises. Using steam engines, machine drilling, refining smelter furnace, mine has maintained high production, and in 1913 achieved a record of 820 tons of mercury. Idrija countered in the early 20th century nearly 6000 inhabitants and was characterized by lively political, social and cultural life. With the first Slovenian High school, built in 1901, the city developed into an educational centre of Slovenian importance. During the First World War and the twenty five year long Italian occupation (1918-1943) there was a period of stagnation of the mine, a time of cultural stupor and national pressure. Under the German administration (1943-1945) mining declined even more and the air bombing attacks in the spring of 1945 totally disabled it. From 1945 until 1950 the miners with plenty of will and self-denial completed renova-tion works, which enabled the reestablishment of production. Annual production of mercury was increasing and reaching from 400 to 500 tons per year. The most modern excavation, transportation and melting machineries were introduced in the next twenty years. Despite the increased amount of ore produced, mercury production with its lower content in the ore was 500 to 600 tons per year. The city was changing, old and picturesque miner's houses were disappearing. The city got a new look. The seventies of the last century have brought the crisis of the world mercury market, which was crucial to the Idrija

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mine. Mercury, which was formerly used at amalgamation, in science, medicine, technol-ogy and industry, has begun to be replaced by the environment and man less harmful substances. Income of the mine has been en-tirely dependent on the sale of mercury and thus indirectly on the prices of these metals on the world market. Because of the low prices of mercury on the world market, Idrija mine could no longer operate economically; therefore in March 1977 a decision was ac-cepted to temporarily stop the production.

MINE DECRIPTIONIdrija mining site extends below the surface of Idrija valley in NW-SE direction in the length of 1500 m, width of 300 to 600 m and at the depth of 450 m. The deepest parts of the mine have reached the depth of 382 m or 36 m below sea level. In 500 years more than 700 km of trenches were excavated and more than three million

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cubic metres ore and waste from which 147.00 tons of mer-cury was obtained. With more than 13% of world production, Idrija mine is the second largest mercury mine in the world. More mercury is produced only in the Spanish Almaden mine, which was exploited by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Today preserved legacy of mines and mining are mining site, under-ground trenches and shafts, mining buildings, churches and the pathways by which mercury was exported into the world.

CULTURAL AND TOURIST VALORISATIONThe legacy of mining in historical significance, design, equip-ment and technology presents a unique monument in Slovenia and wider European area. Preserving heritage means preserving traditions of town Idrija, which is the cradle of natural sciences. Idrija is in 2012 with the legacy of mercury together with the Spanish Almaden inscribed under UNESCO's World Heritage List. The legacy of mercury in Idrija is of European and world significance. A cultural tourist offer is being built on the history of mining, and after closing the mine mercury represents a significant development potential of Idrija.

LITERATURE: Dossier UNESCO Conservation Plan Anthony's Shaft

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BA—NoviĆi

The economy of the municipality Banovići relies on the energy sector, specifically on the mining industry, which was the reason for founding the town. Except coal, which is the main ore, there is a stone mine and several companies in the field of metal industry. One of the main economic re-sources available to municipality Banovići is a quality high-calorie brown coal, which was and still is the basic premise of eco-nomic and social development of this municipality. Brown Coal Mines Banovići in Banovići started back in 1946 when the war-ravaged country needed coal as an energy source in the industry. The railroad Brčko—Banovići was built in 1946 for the purpose of coal exploitation.

HISTORYMines in Banovići were established in November 1946 as Brown Coal Mine Tito Banovići, upon completion of Youth rail-way Brčko - Banovići. In the first year the mines had less than 696 employees and produced 97,412 tons of coal. A year later, the number of employees was reduced to 462 and the annual production increased to 491.42 tons of coal.

In 1982, after new trucks had arrived and surface mining was intensified, the number

Name of the mine: Coal Mine Banovići Ltd.

Town/Municipality: Banovići

Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: stock company with majority state capital

UNESCO protection: no

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of employees increased to 3,635, and the annual production reached 2,392,705 tons of coal. The biggest production in the his-tory of the mine was in 1990.

Until 1991, production is stagnant, and the number of employees is increased to 3,835 workers. At the beginning of the aggres-sion against Bosnia and Herzegovina staff numbers are starting to decline drastically, and during the first war year, the annual production decreased to 938,670 tons, with a tendency of further decline. The post-war year ended with production of 317,089 tons. During the war the mines in Banovići worked within the Coal Mine Tuzla, according to the so-called Thermal power system (TES). The epilogue of a four-year-long war production of 1,742,248 tons was fatal: devastated manufacturing capacity, destroyed coal-bed, unsettled debts on behalf of the undelivered quan-tity of coal exceeding 12 millions KM.

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After the war, production was increasing, but it was evident that working together under the protection of the coal mine Tuzla presented a serious obstruction in consoli-dation and development. In late 1998, the mine had been separated and continued to operate as Brown Coal mine Banovići. Soon, with the help of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it buys five most modern trucks. Production increased, first to one million in 2001 and then to 1.2 million in 2002 and just under 1.3 million a year later.

In 2004 a new page started in the history of the Mine. The first meeting of share-holders was held late in May. They made a decision on organizational transformation into a stock company, the state becomes the owner of 69.3% of share capital and the workers own 30.7% of the capital. The Supervisory Board was appointed, as well as the Audit Committee, and the new

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Company Management. Brown Coal Mine Banovići ended business year with a record production of 1,328,169 tons of screened coal and a record discovering of 7,791,529 cubic meters of solid mass. The final bill shows a record profit of 4.7 millions KM. The results achieved in production, discovery, economic-financial operations, regular wages for employees, and 2.5 millions KM set aside for the acquisition of equipment, rank this Company among the most successful companies in the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Today, Brown Coal Mine Banovići Ltd. Banovići is the largest economic entity in the municipality and therefore the bearer of the economy. The mine is currently exploiting two surface excavations and one underground excavation. The company has approximately 2,800 employees and an annual production of about 1.5 million tons of black gold. Besides the domestic market, it is exporting to the neighbouring countries. In 2005 it became a member of EUROCOAL, the European association of mines and became the first mine from Bosnia and Herzegovina that managed to stand shoulder to shoulder with other authoritative mines in Europe.

Long-term development of the mine and the economy of the municipality Banovići is based on building a power plant of

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300 MW / 350 MWA, with the support of the Municipality of Banovići and the Government of the Federation, which should provide secure placement of coal, electricity and thermal energy, creating new jobs and raising the standards of em-ployees. Encouraging the construction of other commercial facilities such as Cement plant and other service and manufacturing facilities, are also parts of the long term plans for this highly successful giant from Banovići. The goal is to produce cement of by-products from thermal power stations and marly layers.

CULTURAL AND TOURIST VALORISATIONLike any mine in the world, Brown Coal Mine Banovići Ltd. Banovići has its own reserves too, which will one day be spent, and the long-term plans should be about its cultural and tourist valorisation after closing. Of course, now these plans are being prepared for tourist valorisation and preservation of all machinery, mining tools, archives and similar. Therefore, Brown Coal Mine Banovići Ltd. Banovići, in co-operation with the Municipality of Banovići drafted a project about the Museum of mining and railways. The archival material as well as exhibits of mining machinery and mining tools will be combined into one unit and will allow potential tourists to experience mining from its beginnings. The museum will be located across from the office building of Brown Coal Mine Banovići Ltd. Banovići and it will be built in the form of a mining lamp.

In addition, the project has been made on narrow-gauge railway construction for train Ćiro which already brings together lovers of steam locomotives from around the world.

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RY—BNIK

RY—BNIK

HISTORY.The history of Ignacy Coal Mine dates back to 1792 when on Prussian Minister of Silesia Province Carol George von Hoym initiative the coal mine Hoym was opened. During initial period it was the only state-owned coal mine but within next few years like all others became private property and merged with neighbouring coal mines. When Poland regained part of Upper Silesia in 1922 the coal mine Hoym−Laura became the Polish Treasury property which caused many favourable changes. The investment done between world wars modernize the coal mine and increased the production of coal. The change hand wasn’t the only turning point in that time. In 1936 the coal mine change its name into Ignacy in honour of Ignacy Mościcki— President of the Republic of Poland. During II WW the Coal Mine Ignacy was a part of German concern Herman Göring Werke and its name was changed into Hoymgrube. It produced coal for German war industry during the whole war.

Name of the mine: Historic Coal Mine Ignacy — Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy

Town/Municipality: Labin

Country: Croatia

Legal status: Z–2719, protected cultural heritage

Type: immovable cultural heritage, cultural—historical entity

UNESCO protection: no

Period: 20th century

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After the war the special resolution brought back all coal mines to the Polish State. In 1968 Ignacy Coal Mine merged with neighbouring Rydułtowy Coal Mine. Since then the coal mine name was Ruch II (Site II). In 1990 the historic name of the coal mine was restored and present full name is Historic Coal Mine Ignacy. On the beginning of the 90’s as a result of socio-political changes in Poland the restructuring of mining industry started. In order to increase coal mine’s profit-ability the production of coal decreased and the Ignacy was almost excluded from exploitation.

The Coal Mine Ignacy is the oldest coal mine in Rybnik area and has several unique buildings and equipment on its grounds. In December 2005 after many efforts the coal mine was registered into (national) Register of Monuments. Owing

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to limitation of coal production the Ignacy has stopped mining and currently it functions as a ventilating shaft for Rydułtowy-Anna Coal Mine.

MINE DESCRIPTIONThe Ignacy Coal Mine is situated in south-western part of Rybnik, in the Niewiadom district, 6,5 km away from the city centre. Niewiadom has the population of ca. 5000 residents and for many years was related to mining industry. Niewiadom is built-up by detached houses in most, with a small number of block of flats located nearby the mine. A spoil heap of a gangue —the result of the former coal production — is situated north to the mine. The following structures are situated at the site: Kościuszko and Głowacki shafts with headframes (mine towers) and machine rooms, water tower, carpenter’s workshop and office building. Some buildings are not used in coal mine work so they are rented for other purposes. At present in the office building is a seat of post office, pharmacy as well as Social Welfare Centre and Historic Coal Mine Ignacy Association. All buildings and grounds belong to the City of Rybnik and Coal Company (Kompania Węglowa S.A.).

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CULTURAL AND TOURIST VALORISATIONSince 2000 the coal mine is available for tourists. The main attraction for industrial tourist lovers are steam hoisting machines from 1900 and 1920. Moreover in 2007 ends the modernization and adaptation of the 46 meters high water tower for tourism (viewpoint). In the nearest future reconstruc-tion of 2 buildings (carpenter’s workshop and steam machine room) is planned. After reconstruction City of Rybnik is going to establish industrial thematic park there with the part of the city museum and place for cultural events.

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Thanks to its historic value the Coal Mine is on the list of the Industrial Monuments Route of the Silesia Region (ERIH Regional Route) which in 2004 was awarded a certificate for Best Tourist Product 2004 given by Polish Tourist Association. Ignacy Coal Mine has potential to become regional tourist-cultural centre and take advantage of greater social interest of industrial culture monuments. As the examples from Western Europe show, this kind of structures could be adapted and start a new life as a museums, cinemas, galleries and even the sport or conference centres. It requires a revitalization of existing infrastructure which vault is change of buildings functions which let to adjustment of the coal mine to tourist requirements. The City Authorities and Coal Company are determined to start and finish adjustment works.SOURCE [OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION]: Andrzej Adamczyk, Kopalnia Węgla Kami-ennego Hoym Ignacy 1792-1967-2011, Warszawa, 2011. isbn: 9788371924347

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cAr—BO NIA

HISTORYMine Serbariu opened 1937 because of the needs of Italian government to intensify the exploitation of Italian coalfields for war purposes. Parallel with preparation of mine opening was also the city of Carbonia designed and built. It was an urban centre near the mine. According to the initial pro-ject it should have had 12,000 inhabitants, but only a few years after its foundation, in 1938, it has developed into a place with more than 50,000 people. According to the ideas of the Italian government, Carbonia and surrounding mines should have become an important industrial cen-tre and an energy basis for development of the entire country. The new settlement was designed at table: in the centre of the city there are buildings of power (Fascia Building, Municipality, church); near the main square (Piazza Roma) are located houses of mine’s director (Villa Sulcis) and manager, something further

Name of the mine: Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia Muzej premogovništva Slovenije,

Town/Municipality: Carbonia

Country: Italy

Legal status: protected cultural heritage

Type: movable and immovable cultural heritage, cultural—historical entity

UNESCO protection: yes. the locality is included in UNESCO's cultural heritage list

Period: 20th century

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there are houses for administrative staff, and on the periphery are quarters for workers. Workers' hotels are also char-acteristic for Carbonia. They are located in various residential areas that are built to house miners without family. Mining production kept pace with the histori-cal and social events in that territory. It achieved its peak during the war period in 1940, when 1,295,000 tons of coal was excavated. Then, excavation suddenly dropped in 1943. The port S. Antioco was destroyed in the war and that disabled coal transportation out of Sardinia. New rise was recorded in 1947, during the post-war reconstruction. In the following years it was declining gradually. A period of slow decline of mining followed in the fifties. On one side there were symptomatic constant threats that the mine will be closed and on the other side were strikes and manifestations, which were aiming

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at preserving the life of the mine. In the sixties there was an epilogue to the mine Serbariu: mine was on a road to become depleted, the price of the Sardinian coal was not able to compete with foreign coal, poor productivity and the exodus of workers; these were some of the causes that led to the final closure of the mine Serbariu in 1964.

MINING TRAGEDIESUnderground work was extremely difficult and dangerous. As in many other mines, tragedies happened also here and many miners lost their lives. Misfortune, over-exploitation of the labour force and low levels of security are the main causes of accidents. Among various disasters that have occurred in the mine Serbariu, two of them are especially remembered.

On March 31, 1939, during coal excavation at the site at level of -50, near Pit 7, after they set up mines for their interconnec-tion, the workers withdrew so that they could be activated. After the explosion of the first two mines on a mentioned minefield there have been two powerful explosions, and im-mediately a large amount of burning gas hit the juncture 2

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and caught many workers of this site as well as those of neighbouring sites. Gas surge violently crashed shore intersection (cross-section between the transverse and vertical corridors). During the collapse, the intersection fell on three employees and one died due to skull fracture. In this accident, which was attributed to the ex-plosion of accumulated coal dust, caused by the use of insufficiently secure explo-sives, a total of 40 miners were injured, nine of which died (one on the spot due to the collapse, and eight in the hospital due to sustained burns to more than half of the body and due to pulmonary oedema as a result of toxic gas inhalation caused by ex-plosion). On October 19, 1937 in Schisorgiu shaft, near Sirai excavation site, for same reasons and in similar circumstances 14 workers died in an accident in which a total of 22 were injured.

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CULTURAL AND TOURIST VALORISATION CICC (Centro Italiano della Cultura del Carbone — Italian Centre for Coal Culture) was established as an association in 2006 by the Municipality of Carbonia and Geo-mining, historical and enviromental park of Sardinia. Its purpose was to manage and evaluate the mine site Serbariu. Mining Complex Serbariu with active excavation from 1937 to 1964, which closed in 1971, gave the seal to the economy of Sulcis and it was also, from the thirties to the fifties, one of the most important energy resources of Italy. Devastated mining complex, due years of neglecting and unauthorized use, was gradually bought. The site of 25 of the original 33 acres was bought by the munici-pality of Carbonia. On December 4, 2002 it launched major interventions, co-financed by the EU, in order to rescue and restructure buildings into museums and for didactic contents. The project of rescuing and restructuring has enabled the use of former mine facilities and buildings, which today form the Coal Museum that opened on November 3, 2006.

The museum includes the lamp room, a hall with a haulage machine and an underground trench. In the lamp room is a standing exhibition on the history of coal (mining), mine and the town of Carbonia. The spacious hall hosts a particularly

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valuable collection of mining lamps, various tools and instruments, items of everyday use, photographs, documents, film clips and video interviews of miners. The hall with a haulage machine has a stored cage-winding machine to transport miners and empty or full coal wagons. The underground trench shows the development of excava-tion techniques that have been used in coal mine Serbariu from the thirties until its closure; in faithfully reconstructed cor-ridors is equipment of that period as well as large machines, which are still used in active mines. In addition, the Museum has a shop (bookshop), where it is possible to buy books on the subject and occasional items (gadgets), a coffee shop and a lecture hall with 130 comfortable seats and modern audio-video equipment.

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PUBLISHer: City of Labin (Croatia)

PartnerS: City of rybnik (Poland), City of Carbonia (Italia), Municipality of velenje (Slovenia), Municipality of Idrija (Slovenia), Municipality of Banovići (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Municipality of raša (Croatia), Labin national Museum, Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia—velenje

deSIGn: Klaudia Barbić i Piero ricci

PrInt: Kreativni tisak d.o.o., Zagreb

year: 2014.