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Prali
Things to Do in Prali
Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca

Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca, Prali: Hours, Address, Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca Reviews: 4.5/5

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Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca

See all things to do
See all things to do
Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca
4.5
286
#1 of 5 things to do in Prali
Mines
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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Situato in Val Germanasca, a circa 70 Km a sud-ovest di Torino nel cuore delle valli Valdesi ed Occitane, il Centro di Accoglienza dell'Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca offre al pubblico la possibilita di vivere entusiasmanti momenti di scoperta. La peculiarita che rende il Centro di Accoglienza dell'Ecomuseo "sito di eccellenza" e la presenza delle due miniere "Paola" e "Gianna" che, con oltre 4 km di gallerie allestite, hanno consentito di creare due percorsi di visita unici a livello internazionale: ScopriMiniera e ScopriAlpi.
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
4.5
286 reviews
Excellent
196
Very good
81
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Made-In-Mars
Marseille, France138 contributions
A must-do!
Aug 2017 • Family
Very good place to visit! For all the people who like the atmosphere of 'the underground'. We were 7 and most of us enjoyed. Of course it is cold down there but the guide explained how people worked there.
But be careful! The visit is JUST in Italian! My friend who doesn't speak Italian was quickly bored. And it is closed on Tuesday!
Written September 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brun066
Florence, Italy10,133 contributions
Well-organized mining museum, exceptionally evocative
Oct 2016 • Couples
I had heard for a long time about the talc mine Museum in Val Germanasca, and I has long wanted to visit. The opportunity came recently: in my journey of a long weekend in the western Piedmont, the mine was therefore a not-to-miss.
My expectations were not disappointed. The tour lasts two hours, so your money is well spent (the regular ticket costs 12 euro). Also the staff is thorough in his explanations, and eventually at the end of your visit you will find you've learned a lot about a business - the talc mining - that perhaps you had not heard before (also because these mines are not very common: we learned that in a large country like Italy there are only three talc mines).
Above all, the visit is impressive. The mining train that carries passengers runs for 1 km into the mountain; also you need to walk up for about one hundred meters from the entrance to get to the train; and when finally you drop it, you walk through a striking circular path in the most remote galleries.
Among the most moving moments: the passage above the deepest vertical shaft, where went up and down the elevator which was used to move the carts filled with ore from one level to another one; the simulation of the explosion caused to advance the excavation face; the train journey that lasts 8 minutes, and that seems to take you away forever from the outside world.
It's important to note that - according to what I was told - guided tours in English can also take place; but you have to ask for them as a group, and to book well in advance.
Over the years, I have visited a number of museums adapted in the former mine tunnels; but I will remember this as the most impressive, perhaps together with that of the Llechwedd slate mines in Wales.
Written October 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
57heaven
Vinci,Tuscany56 contributions
Ever seen where the talc in your talcum powder comes from?
Jun 2015
On a VERY hot day, we were happy to visit this mine in Prali, which for almost 200 years until it closed in the 1990's mined talc,which apart from its use in the cometics industry is used in a large number of other industries too.Our very informative guide took us on a miners train 2km inside the mouintain and explained all about the equipment, the work and the lives of the miners.There is an English speaking guide available for this trip and group size is for a minimum of 8 persons.You are also asked to bring with you a pullover and wind jacket, which were a most definite requirement.
Written July 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
zubuz
Zagreb, Croatia41 contributions
Mine for visit
Sep 2014 • Business
Very nice example of geoheritage and industrial heritage site. You will see many things - from geology, to everyday miners life. There is a nice visitors center and souvenir shop. In visitors center you can see very interesting movie about the mine before the modern mining in the form of an interview with old miners. Inside the mine you will ride a miners train as a time travel through Earth history. Unfortunately the comments from the speakers were in Italian only. There are nice presentation from the field of geology and mining so you can see many types of rock, minerals and structures typical for this part of the Alps. Whole project is leaded by the young staff doing their job very good.
Written September 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rara G
Beinasco, Italy11 contributions
old miners life
Aug 2012
great for kids and grown up a miner train takes you into the mine they give you a helmet to wear. Need warm clothes in summer too. Usually no english spoken but it isn't really necessary because you understand quite a lot by what you see
Written November 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca
Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca is open:
  • Wed - Mon 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM