55 years since the end of mining in Horní Město
On September 30, 2025, we commemorate 55 years since the end of lead and zinc ore mining in Horní Město. On this day in 1970, one of the most significant chapters in the history of the town closed—one that had shaped the life of the community and its surroundings for centuries.
For many centuries, Horní Město was among the most important mining centers of the Jeseník region. While silver was primarily mined here during the Middle Ages, in later periods lead and zinc ores took the main role. The final stage of mining began in the 1960s, when extensive geological exploration and mine construction took place. New shafts, facilities, and transport routes were built.
Between 1965 and 1970, more than two hundred thousand tons of ore were extracted, but the high costs of transport and ore processing eventually outweighed the profits. The decision to end mining was made in 1970, and the last wagon of ore left the mine on September 30 of that year.
After the closure, liquidation and securing of the mine workings followed. Yet traces of the mining past remain in the landscape to this day—most notably the concrete cap of the Nová Shaft with a memorial plaque, and a small replica of a headframe near the church, reminding visitors of the proud era of Horní Město’s miners.
The 55th anniversary offers an opportunity to honor the work of generations of miners who, through their efforts, left behind a complex network of adits, shafts, chimneys, and tunnels beneath Horní Město. Today, we can once again visit parts of these underground spaces—this time as visitors, not miners.