Rudný revír Eliášské údolí Mine

Welcome to Elias Valley, heart of Jáchymov. Right now, you're standing in the middle of a place where nature slowly returns to its rights and wraps up traces of thousands of hours of hard work. If you look around you, you may not see any spectacular palaces or tall towers, but you will see something much more precious. In front of you is a real example of the old mining landscape. Notice the strange shape of the terrain, the piles of drilled rocks that we call the bulge, and the remains of the old shafts and shafts. It's a space that tells the story of a deep desire for a man to reach the treasures hidden deep underground.

Let us now return together in time to understand why this valley is so extraordinary. Mining in this area is not new, it started here in the 16th century. At that time Jáchymov was not what we know today, but it was the center of the shaft digging in the Erzgebirge Mountains. The first miners came here looking for precious metals, namely silver, cobalt and vismuth. Imagine the first people who, with simple tools in their hands, entered the darkness of the rocks, leading hopes of wealth. One of the first big steps in the development of this region was the establishment of Heinz Pond, which we now know as Hot Pond. It happened in the year one thousand five hundred forty. This pond was not intended to rest, but served as a key source of water. It was powered by heavy wheels and pumps, which was the only way to get water from the depths of the shafts and extract ore from them. Without water, mining in such deep areas would be impossible.

When you go further, pay attention to the overall layout of the landscape. Notice the system of pins and rolls. Pinek are basically piled piles of rock residues that did not contain enough metals and were therefore thrown to the surface. These piles are silent witnesses to thousands of tons of escaped material. Notice how these elements intersect with the surrounding greenery. It's a fascinating contrast between industrial intervention and nature regeneration. There are different periods of mining in this area. In addition to the oldest traces, you will find remains from a later period. For example, the Rudolf shaft, which was founded in a thousand seven hundred thirty-six, represents another layer of the history of this place.

Let us now talk about how the character of this valley has changed in a more recent historical context. Elijah Valley is not just about silver and cobalt. After a year of a thousand and nine hundred forty-five, a completely different chapter took place here. At that time, attention shifted to uranium mining. This was a material that at the time gained great strategic importance. It was during this period that new spaces were dug. In the year one thousand and nineteen forty-eight the mine of Eduard began to emerge, which was dug under the already abandoned mine of Antonín. This layer, where the new shafts dig below the old ones, is typical of Jáchymov and shows how the miners tried to use every piece of vein left over from previous generations.

Here we come to one of the most interesting parts of this region. Notice that the Elias Valley combines within itself the remains of completely different periods. It's where the silver era meets uranium. This is one of the main reasons why this territory is so valuable today. In the year two thousand and eighteen, the valley was declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and already a year later, in the year two thousand and nineteen, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the mining region of Krušnohoří. This means that the values you see here are not only significant for Jáchymov or for us, but they are valuable for all mankind.

Allow me to interest you now in some interesting things that you will not find in ordinary maps. Most of us associate Jáchymov with precious metals and uranium, but there is one exception in this region. The mine Antonín was the only object in the entire valley, which was intended to mine iron ore. It's a little unique in a sea of precious metals. And if you're interested in anything unusual, think about the Werner mine. In the nineteenth century, radioactive water was used here for medical purposes. People believed in her ability to cure diseases, which shows us how the view of natural resources and their properties changed over time.

Now, if you look around you, feel the atmosphere of this place. It's a quiet valley, but in its depths the noise of thousands of machines, sweat and labor of thousands of miners. Imagine the people who worked here in the darts, in the dust and in the cold to pull the most precious thing out of the depths of the earth. Even though we don't see people with pickaxe today, their presence is in every stone and every curvature of the terrain.

I will now invite you to move on slowly and explore the rest of this valley. Follow the roads, observe the details in the landscape and be accompanied by the history that has taken place here for centuries. The Elias Valley is like an open book, where each layer of rolls is a new page. It's a place where one feels small before the power of the earth and fascinated by the ability of one to conquer the country.

Thank you for coming through these first steps with me in the Elias Valley. I wish you a pleasant walk and an inspiring rest of the time in Jáchymov. Remember to perceive the silence of this place, which now speaks for all those who once worked here. Goodbye.