The Queen Louise Adit – a unique place on the map of Europe

Today we take you on a special journey, a trip underground, into a mine. However, it will not be an ordinary mine. We will show you the amazing place Sztolnia Królowa Luiza (Queen Louise Adit), where you can not only walk through underground passages, see ancient machines and learn about the mining history of the region, but also go on the deepest underground rafting in Europe!

We have heard about the Queen Louise Adit many times before, and it has been recommended to us many times by you, too – both blog readers and those who follow us on social media. We knew that you can go there by boat, which seemed to us such a unique attraction that we checked several times on the website what it consisted of and with children of what age you can go down to the adit. It is a very interesting place, but only children over 6 years old can go down some of the trails. There are also routes for younger people. This is worth keeping in mind when planning your visit.

However, it worked out in the end! We took Olive to Zabrze and decided to see if it is really as interesting as everyone praises and if it is worth taking a child here (and at what age is best). In this post, we will tell you about what a visit to the Adit is like, how to prepare and what you need to know.

Table of contents

What exactly is an adit?

By definition:

“An adit is a corridor in a mine leading from the mountainside deep into the mineral deposits.” ^[source]

To better illustrate and explain this, it can be added that the adit is without a shaft, there is no elevator going down, and the entrance and access to the deposits is through a corridor leading from the outside, for example, just from the slope. However, adits also serve another important function: they are used for mine drainage. Working in a mine means constantly facing various dangers, one of which is the risk of mine flooding. The adit allows for water drainage, and in addition can be used to transport coal.

And at this point it is worth adding that the “Queen Louise” Adit, is not only an adit, but also a mine so do not be surprised to see a shaft on its premises :)

The Queen Louise Adit – what is worth knowing?

The Queen Louise Adit is a unique place on the map not only of Poland but also of Europe. It is here that you can go by boat on the deepest underground rafting in Europe! The route that miners once traveled in boats, transporting tons of coal, is today accessible to tourists and guarantees a unique experience.

Of course, rafting is not the only attraction here. The adit offers several tours and attractions beyond the underground, and there is another mine in Zabrze worth noting – the Guido Mine. Combining a visit to these two facilities will be an interesting idea for the weekend(post about Guido mine).

The Queen Louise Adit – a guided tour

Below we have prepared some important information about the tour and the different routes. We had the opportunity to take a one-on-one guided tour – we spent almost 5 hours underground that day (with a break, of course, don’t worry ;) ) and were able to look at almost every available part in the mine.

The Queen Louise Adit is not allowed to visit on your own. Each route is a guided, group descent. It is best to purchase tickets online in advance, especially during high season.

The facility’s website describes the routes quite thoroughly, but it is especially worth noting the duration (the shortest lasts 1.5 hours and the longest 2.5 hours), the length of the route, and age restrictions (most routes are available from 6 years old).

You must be on site at least 15 minutes before the start time of the tour. All tour participants are given helmets and flashlights (children’s sizes are also available).

If you have more time in Zabrze, you should also check out the Guido Mine, where an Underground Mining Walk or more challenging trails in the dark await.

Tour routes

There are several tours available at the Queen Louise Adit, and depending on what interests you the most, choose one or more tours, with a note of caution: due to the length it will be rather difficult to go on more than two tours in one day.

Underground Adit Rafting

Tour time: 2.5 hours
Minimum age: 6 years old

Let’s start with this unique route, because it is the quintessential tour of the “Queen Louise” Adit. Contrary to appearances, it does not just involve passing through underground passages by boat. It is also an underground walk, but the tour goes both ways and some tours start with a cruise and then there is about a kilometer walk and a trip to the surface by train, and some go the other way: first going underground, walking with a guide and only getting on the boats that take you to the surface. We were in the latter group: first we went down, reached the port, and took a boat out, which was quite a surprising experience.

You travel more than a kilometer by boat, although the entire adit is 14km long and was a unique project that took as long as 64 years to build (the length was intended to be more than double that)! Nowadays, the adit is prepared for tourists, and boating is not accompanied by total darkness and instead of pushing off the walls, the boat is powered by an engine. Sections are sailed through colorfully illuminated tunnels telling different stories, but there are also sections traversed in darkness, with flashlights and a light on the front of the boat being the only sources of light. There are several boats and they run in both directions (passes are prepared).

Note that water drips during the cruise, so it’s a good idea to protect your valuables extra.

After the cruise was over, a bus was waiting to take us back to where we started the trip.

Underground time travel

Tour time: 2.5 hours
Minimum age: 6 years old

A trip along this route is a step back in time by more than 200 years, more precisely to 1791 when the Queen Louisa mine was founded. During the 2.5-hour walk, visitors will learn what the miners’ work consisted of, under what conditions coal was extracted and passages were drilled, and what tools were used. Through the prepared scenes in the niches, you can see how hard and dangerous the work was.

The journey begins with a descent down a staircase, and then walks among other things. drift. Incredibly impressive are this illuminated arches and wooden footbridge, as well as the underground harbor where spoils were loaded onto boats. It is also an interesting experience to walk along a walkway fully carved in coal.

However, a walk along this route is not only to learn about old mining techniques and the operation of adits. It’s also more modern machinery and tools, and even a ride on a real mining train!

Underground Machine Kingdom

Tour time: 1.5 hours
Minimum age: 4 years old

This part is available for families with children who are 4 years old or older and is shorter in terms of tour time, so it’s ideal just if you’re traveling with preschoolers (of course, for older children and adults it will be a good choice too!).

It is here that there is an opportunity to see giant mining machines, and all one would like to add is “in action,” although that would be partially true. The machines are working, but, of course, they are no longer boring corridors and transporting coal. They serve educational and touristic purposes: walking along this route, the guide not only tells about them, but also activates them, so that the mine fills with sounds.

Quite an attraction is a ride on the Karlik, or mining train, which used to be ridden by miners and today can be ridden by visitors to the adit.

Family Shychta

Tour time: 2 hours
Minimum age: 5 years

The family shindig is a new addition to the facility’s offerings. This is a family adventure, during which you can become a miner for a while and see for yourself what his work consisted of. Participants don special clothes, mine coal and cut wood, while learning mining jargon, learning about coal and working together.

Carnall zone and historic steam engine

The Carnall Zone is an above-ground area, also open to the public and free of charge.

In this section you can see, first of all, a steam engine that is more than a century old and still in operation! It is worth looking here during the hours when it is launched, that is, at half past the hour. The commissioning of the machine is preceded by a short introduction by a mine employee to learn about its history, and then the machine…. comes to life!

It’s also worth seeing the shaft superstructure and climbing the shaft tower. Here you can learn how the cage used to go down, how signalmen communicated, and you can even transmit an emergency signal.

The view from the very top of the shaft tower lets you see for yourself how GREEN Silesia is! From above, one can see, among other things. Guido mine railroad shaft.

Adit with child

As we have stressed several times, the Adit has age restrictions, but it is also a super attraction for children, including younger ones The trails have age restrictions (which is worth checking before buying tickets) and this, of course, has its purpose: there is a lot of walking at the bottom, at times it is dark, slippery, wet, and, above all, it is a guided tour in groups. The routes are open to children from 6. year of age, and smaller children, from 4. year olds can visit the Underground Machine Kingdom.

However, it’s worth knowing that there is a children’s section that will interest even the youngest, and we’re talking about a place with the mysterious name of Bytel Gruba. It is an extensive themed learning and play area in Park 12C, where children can learn through play, among other things. How the mine works.

There is a traditional playground, but also a place where an installation has been prepared to show the transportation of coal (coal replaces gravel/stone), a maze or a fountain. There is also no shortage of benches and a place to relax and unwind.

Practical information

Below we’ve compiled a handful of practical information, from what to know, access, parking, opening hours, prices and accommodation in the area.

Worth knowing

When booking a tour, it is necessary to read in detail about the length, tour time and contraindications.
All this information is available on the mine’s website.
It is mandatory to buy tickets in advance or book them, for a specific time.
It’s cool down there, so it’s worth taking a sweatshirt or sweater with you even in summer.
The site is adapted for wheelchair users.
Tours are conducted in groups only, with a guide (the exception is the Carnall Zone and Park 12C).

Access and parking

Depending on the route chosen, the entrance is in different locations:

The Chain Bath building, ul. Freedom 408 for the routes: Underground Adit Rafting and Underground Time Travel and for the Carnall zone. Access by public transport: stops Zaborze Skansen Luiza, buses No. 6 and 234, streetcars No. 4 and 5
Street. M. Mochnackiego 12 for the Underground Machine Kingdom route and to Park 12C. Access by public transport: Zabrze Sienkiewicza stop, streetcars no. 4 and 5

There are free parking lots at both buildings.

Opening hours

Opening hours may vary by day of the week and season, but what’s more important is that when booking a ticket you must choose a specific time and be at least 15 minutes early.

You can easily check the hours and available number of seats on this website: undergroundadventure.co.uk

Prices

Prices vary depending on the route, and we have prepared an abbreviated price list below, current at the time of writing this post (2024 season).

A discounted ticket is available for children and young people studying up to 26 years of age, as well as pensioners. Family ticket – price per person, with a group of a minimum of 3 people, of which a maximum of two are adults. There is a 20% discount with the Large Family Card.

Underground Adit Rafting:

Normal ticket – 65 zł
Discounted ticket – 50 PLN
Family ticket – 50 PLN

Underground Time Travel:

Normal ticket – 50 PLN
Discounted ticket – 40 PLN
Family ticket – 40 PLN

Underground Machine Kingdom:

Normal ticket – 40 zł
Discounted ticket – 35 PLN
Family ticket – 35 PLN

Family Shychta:

Normal ticket – 50 PLN
Discounted ticket – 45 PLN

Before buying, we recommend looking at current promotions, as you can hunt down additional discounts and your entry will come out a little cheaper.

Accommodation in the area

Where to stay overnight in the area? We spent the night in Zabrze at the Ibis hotel, and below we have prepared for you a list of several facilities with good reviews in the area:

Ibis Katowice – Zabrze
Address: Jagiellońska 4, 41-800 Zabrze
Prices: from 250 PLN for a double room
Link: https://r4b.link/hotelibiskatowicezabrze
Park Hotel Diament Zabrze
Address: 3-go Maja 122a, 41-800 Zabrze
Prices: from 318 PLN for a double room
Link: https://r4b.link/park-diament-zabrze
PROMUS Guesthouse
Address: ul. Pawliczka 25, 41-800 Zabrze
Prices: from 285 PLN for a double room
Link: https://r4b.link/gosciniec-promus
Green Garden
Address: ul. Roberta Miki 3, 41-811 Zabrze
Prices: from 318 PLN for a double room
Link: https://r4b.link/zielony-ogrod-zabrze

Restaurants

After an eventful day, you are sure to be tired and hungry. If you want to eat well, we especially recommend these two restaurants:

Waiters in the Tower – The restaurant is located in a former water tower. In addition to an interesting menu and an original approach to traditional dishes, it offers very pleasing to the eye views of the entire area.
Address: ul. Jana Zamoyskiego 2, 41-800 Zabrze
Naleśnikarnia Kamienica – A restaurant serving both dry and salty pancakes and pancakes. We especially recommend seasonal pancakes.
Address: Wolności 360, 41-800 Zabrze

Our opinion – is the Queen Louise Adit worth visiting?

A visit to the Queen Louise Adit is a unique experience. This is an excellent place where you can learn about the history of mining in Upper Silesia, admire original mining machinery, learn a lot about the life and work of miners, as well as about the harsh conditions underground.

The Queen Louise Adit is a place that you will certainly remember for a long time. This is not only a trip back in time, but also an opportunity to learn about the fascinating world of miners and discover the secrets hidden underground. It is a unique tourist attraction that combines history, education and entertainment.