Coal Mining Museum in Senjski Rudnik | Museums of Serbia

Coal Mining Museum, unique in this part of Europe, is located in Senjski Rudnik, a place that testifies to the importance of coal mining in this area. Authentic objects used in mining from ancient times to the present day are part of the exhibition that depicts the professional and private lives of miners.

Senjski Rudnik was founded in 1853 and is the oldest active coal mine in Serbia. Its history begins with the discovery of coal, and this small mining settlement is considered the precursor of Serbian industrialization. Coal was primarily used for the needs of the Topolivnica in Kragujevac, one of the first Serbian factories.

The Coal Mining Museum was opened in 1980, and three years later, it was declared a monument of great importance for the Republic of Serbia, together with the rest of the mining complex. Its aim is to showcase the mining-technical and historical development of Senjski Rudnik, as well as other mines in Serbia.

As part of the museum complex, it is possible to visit four buildings - the administration building above Aleksandrov potkop, the machine workshop, the Coal Mining Museum, and the export tower with a steam engine. Additionally, within the complex, there is a park with heavy machinery and large objects used in the mining shafts of Senjski Rudnik.

The building of the old central warehouse was the first one adapted into a museum. The permanent exhibition consists of collections of ancient and medieval mining tools, mining lamps, measuring mining instruments, tools for mining drilling, models and miniatures, mining machines for coal excavation, uniforms and costumes, orders and medals, water barrels, mining-geological maps, photographs, archival material, artworks, and ethnological collections.

The most interesting exhibit is the mining elevator, or steam engine used for transporting people and materials. It was constructed in 1872 at the Jozef Kereši factory in Graz, Austria. Originally, it operated in the Vrdnik mine, and in 1922, it was moved to Senjski Rudnik, where it still operates today. It is the only steam engine of its kind in Europe that is functional to this day.

The machine workshop was built in 1922 for the needs of the mine, and today, as part of the museum, each of its rooms represents a different aspect of miners' lives. Visitors can learn about the authentic appearance of households as well as the social life of miners. The exhibition considered the most touching is titled "Women in Coal Mines Then and Now."

The museum is open every day from early April to the end of October. From Monday to Thursday, working hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, and from Friday to Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm. From the beginning of November to the end of March, from Monday to Friday, the museum is open from 7 am to 3 pm, while weekend visits are possible with prior notice by calling 0693627560. 

The ticket price is 200 dinars for adults and 150 dinars for children aged 7 to 15, while admission is free for younger visitors. 

For more information about the Coal Mining Museum and current exhibitions, you can visit the official website.