The Zrinski Mine
Tucked beneath the leafy slopes of Medvednica, just a short walk from the Grafičar mountain hut, lies a world carved in stone – the Zrinski Mine.
Opened in the 16th century and named after the noble Zrinski family, it once buzzed with the rhythms of daily mining life. It all began with the discovery of galena – a lead ore containing traces of silver – in an area known as the Mining Garden.
Just imagine around 30 miners working long shifts of up to 12 hours, armed with nothing but hammers, pickaxes and shovels. Their only light came from flickering oil lamps as they moved through narrow dark corridors, the sound of metal striking rock echoing through the tunnels. Despite the hard labour, the yield was modest – almost a tonne of ore was needed to extract just half a kilo of silver. In time, the mine fell silent, left to the mountain and the stories buried in its depths.
Then, in 2004, the mine came back to life – carefully restored and opened to visitors. Today, guides will lead you through its cool shadowy passages where the temperature holds steady at 12°C year-round, so make sure to bring warm clothing. The tunnels are low and narrow, so all visitors receive helmets. At the entrance, you’ll be greeted by a statue of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners, and on the way, you’ll meet wooden figures of miners that bring their stories to life, along with the tools they used for their arduous work. The 30-minute tour offers a rare glimpse into the lives of those who once toiled here – complete with echoes of conversations between miners and their overseer, the bergmeister. Each tunnel bears a woman’s name – once in honour of the miners’ wives, and today after the women who work at Medvednica Nature Park.
Protected as a cultural monument of the Republic of Croatia since 2006, the Zrinski Mine offers far more than a look into the past – it invites you to step right into it.
Discover the underground world of Medvednica and step into the stories of a time long gone – yet still echoing beneath the mountain.
The easiest way to get there? Take the Sljeme cable car from Zagreb, then enjoy a walk from Tomislavov dom along trail no. 26 to Grafičar mountain hut.
