The King's Mine, Kongsberg

Buskerud · Norway · Mine

Two herding children found the silver in 1623. Three centuries later the mine had eaten 1,068 metres into the rock – and accidents came weekly.

In the summer of 1623 two herding children found silver in the rock beside the Numedalslågen river. The king came to the site himself in 1624, founded the mining town of Kongsberg and brought in German miners from Saxony and the Harz to work it. The King's Mine became the richest of them all and was ultimately driven to a depth of over 1,068 metres. The work was done in darkness, with fire-setting and sledgehammers, in air thick with smoke – accidents happened practically every week, and death underground was a matter of course in the town's life for over three hundred years. After 335 years the Silver Works closed in 1958. Today visitors ride a train 2.3 kilometres straight into the mountain to the shaft. Beyond the lit section lie hundreds of kilometres of galleries in total darkness, and the silence in there is absolute.

FAQ

Where is The King's Mine, Kongsberg located?

The King's Mine, Kongsberg is in Buskerud, Norway.