The Silver Mines — Attraction in Kongsberg

The silver mine (Sølvgruvene) is quite an attraction in Kongsberg. This is an exciting tour for kids and adults alike, and there is a guided tour around the historical mines.The tour /safari of the silver mine last 1.3 hours. It begins with a 2.3 km bumpy ride on a miniature train into the heart of the mountain to the largest of Kongsberg's mines. The train stops at a depth of 342 m, at the entrance to the King's Mine, where the main compressors that supplied the machinery with energy are housed. The shaft here is 1070 m deep. It is possible to watch the Fahrkunst, the first machine capable of taking men up and down the mine in action. There is a map room with the outline of the mines. Worth visiting if you are...

The Silver Mines is one of Kongsberg's attractions, so you need to visit. We had a out of season tour organised, so we just visited the mines, the museum was closed. The mines are interesting, but the whole visit is an experience. With a 15 minute train ride (a bit bumpy, crowded and dark), you get to the cold mines (6°C), about 2.2 km into the mountain. The tour takes about an hour, through different parts of the mine, in dimly lit corridors. The helmet (provided) is a must, as some of the mine corridors are narrow and short. The guide provides a lot of information, but it could be better. I feel like the tour of the mines has a lot of untapped potential for development, so hopefully it will...

Very cool. Literally. I went specifically for the look at the old mines and they didn't disappoint. The ride into the mine on the old mine train is a fun start, and seeing the machinery and funny shapes of the tunnels following the silver veins was interesting. The tour touches on things older like the water pump-elevator combo and newer like the fast electric elevator that would have been rather crowded. They tell you about the lie temperature in the mines, that's no joke, it is freezing down there. Can't speak for the associated museum exhibitions,...