SOLVAY QUARRIES OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
Industrial heritage, narrow-gauge railway and limestone quarrying in the Czech Karst
The Solvay Quarries Open-Air Museum (Skanzen Solvayovy lomy) is located in a former limestone quarry in the heart of the Czech Karst, about 20 km west of Prague, between the villages of Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Bubovice and Loděnice. Today, the site preserves the history of limestone quarrying, mining technology and industrial transport in this unique landscape.
A quarry with more than 100 years of history
The quarry was established to supply high-quality limestone to the Solvay chemical works in Neštěmice near Ústí nad Labem. Construction began after a concession was granted in 1916, and limestone extraction started in 1918.
Over the following decades, the quarry used a remarkable range of transport and mining technologies: a 600 mm narrow-gauge railway, an aerial ropeway, inclined tracks, underground workings, locomotives, excavators, crushers and sorting equipment. A 217-metre transport tunnel was driven through the hill in 1929. Quarrying continued until 1963.
In 1993, volunteers founded Společnost Barbora, an association dedicated to preserving mining and industrial heritage. They gradually rebuilt the narrow-gauge railway and transformed the abandoned quarry into the museum visitors can explore today.
What can you see and do?
Ride the narrow-gauge railway
The museum operates a 600 mm narrow-gauge railway, based on the railway once used in the quarry. Today’s museum railway includes a 1.8 km passenger circuit through the former quarry landscape. Regular trains are diesel-hauled, while on selected special days the museum operates its historic steam locomotive Bronhilda.
Visit the museum and underground tunnel
The guided tour includes the museum exhibitions and a former quarry tunnel with mining machinery and narrow-gauge vehicles displayed underground.
The museum exhibitions are devoted to:
- limestone quarrying and transport in the Czech Karst,
- geology and speleology,
- industrial aerial ropeways,
- and a historic mechanical workshop.
The complete guided tour takes approximately 40–60 minutes.
Guided tours are currently available in Czech only.
The temperature underground is approximately 8°C throughout the year, so warm clothing is recommended. Children under 3 years of age cannot enter the underground section. The underground visit is not recommended for children under 6 or for people suffering from claustrophobia.
Explore the outdoor collection
Across the site you will find a large collection of original quarrying and mining equipment, including narrow-gauge locomotives and wagons, cable excavators, quarry trucks, an air-powered winch, an inclined railway and many other machines and artefacts.
Opening times and guided tours
The regular season runs from May to October.
| Day | Train departures | Guided tour starts |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday–Friday (July and August only) | 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 | 11:20, 13:20, 15:20 |
| Saturday, Sunday & public holidays (throughout the season) | 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 | 11:20, 13:20, 15:20 |
The guided tour starts at the museum after the arrival of the corresponding train. Additional trains may operate at weekends when demand is high.
Admission prices
| Visitor | Museum + underground | Diesel train | Steam train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (15–65 years) | CZK 120 | CZK 90 | CZK 120 |
| Child (3–15 years) | CZK 80 | CZK 60 | CZK 80 |
| Child under 3 | Underground entry not permitted | Free with an adult | Free with an adult |
| Family (max. 3 children) | CZK 320 | CZK 240 | CZK 320 |
| Student (under 26), senior (65+), disabled visitor | CZK 80 | CZK 90 | CZK 120 |
Tickets are sold on site. 100% of admission income is used for the preservation and further development of the museum.
How to get here
The museum is situated inside a protected natural area and cannot be reached directly by car. Visitors arrive on foot or by bicycle from one of the surrounding villages.
The easiest approach is from Bubovice, approximately 2 km / 20 minutes on foot, mostly on level ground. Other scenic walking routes lead from Loděnice, Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Srbsko and Karlštejn.
The museum is run by volunteers of Společnost Barbora z.s.
Before your visit, please check the website for current opening times, special events and steam-train operating days.
www.solvayovylomy.cz
skanzen@solvayovylomy.cz
