Day tripMine tour by bicycle

MINE TOUR BY BICYCLE THROUGH THE UNDERGROUND OF PECA

Mountain bikes were made for exploring the mountains, but here you can ride your bike through the mountain. We discovered a path through the abandoned and mysterious mining tunnels under Mount Peca. Led by a guide and equipped with helmets and flashlights you can safely ride from one valley to another on a more than 5 kilometers long underground path. The trail runs through secure tunnels and only rises for about 15 m, even though the holes and bumps left by the former railway sleepers do not allow a comfortable ride.The cycling adventure begins as you are greeted by your guide at the Karavanke Geopark Info Centre in Glančnik in Mežica. Together you will head for the entrance in Igrčevo in Črna na Koroškem where you will enter the mine. After cycling the underground trail you will exit the mine in Breg in Mežica, from where you will descend on the asphalt road (about 1.5 km) to the starting point in Glančnik.The mine has a constant temperature of 10 °C. Complete darkness and safety regulations in the underworld require use of special equipment. It is mandatory to use a helmet and a flashlight. You can borrow both pieces of equipment upon payment of entrance fee. We recommend warm, casual clothing and cycling gloves.

The entire tour takes about 2.5 hours. The age limit is 10 years.
Mine tour by bicycle is only possible by prior arrangement and with mountain bikes.

Cycling route under the mountain

Although lead mining under the mountain began already in Roman times, the written records show, that from 1665 until the end of the previous century, when the mine was finally closed down, 800 km of tunnels were dug under the mountain.Majority of tunnels were dug out in the solid rock. The ore and the waste material were transported from the mine by special cars along transportation tracks.
Nowadays, this unique, more than five kilometres long cycling route, runs through such bike tunnels.The cycling path runs along safe tunnels and it rises for only fifteen metres, but the potholes and bumps which remained from the removed tracks do not offer smooth cycling.

MTB Adventure

The most suitable starting point for this adventure is the mining museum in Mežica (500 metres above sea level), where the guide with the necessary equipment will be waiting for you.From there you will cycle to the mine entrance Igrčevo (643 metres above sea level) near Črna na Koroške.The mine exit is in another valley, (Breg near Mežica), from where you will descend along a two km long road to The Mining Museum at Glančnik, where the hired equipment will be returned and the bikes could be washed.