Miniera di Cave del Predil
An underground journey at the time of the miners
About this place
The Raibl Mine, better known as the Cave del Predil Mine, is located in the province of Udine a few kilometers from Tarvisio. Closed since 1991, it is now accessible to anyone who wants to visit it via a one-hour guided tour. The tour is very interesting: the structure of the mine, the process of ore extraction and the methods of transportation outside, the machinery, and the description of worker life entertain the visitor, making him or her a participant in a context far from the ordinary. The quarry has also witnessed important wartime events in that one of its tunnels was used during World War I to transit, unseen, several hundred thousand Austro-Hungarian soldiers to Caporetto, where the infamous battle took place.
- Location: Cave del Predil (UD)
- Parking: near the mine and the museum
- Difficulty: easy
- Ticket price: 15 €.
3 top reasons to visit
01.
A journey through time
Mine work and mining processes have a long history. The tour traces these steps in the different historical contexts.
02.
The guided tour
The guided tour concretely shows the details of work in the mine. It leads the visitor to discover the underground environment, mining veins and stages of mining work.
03.
Instructional and for all
The mine tour is easy and suitable for everyone. The route is about 1 km long and follows a paved path with no elevation changes, covering part of the distance on foot and part aboard a small electric train. The tour is also suitable for children and is very educational.
The tours and the guided tour of the mine
- Trail length: 1.3 km
- Duration: 1 h plus a visit to the mining museum
THE MINING COMPLEX AND VISITABLE AREAS
The mining complex spans 130 km of tunnels spread across 23 levels. The area open to visitors is Level Zero, where you explore part of it on foot and part of it aboard a small electric train, passing through several large chambers carved out of the rock.
THE PATH INSIDE THE TUNNELS
The Cave Mine has been made accessible thanks to a safe route along a smooth, compact artificial path—partly on foot and partly aboard a small electric train. The only precaution is to avoid walking on the wooden planks found in one section, as they can become slippery when wet. The route is also suitable for children; it is simple and free of obstacles. The tunnels are quite spacious and do not feel claustrophobic.
DURATION AND COURSE OF THE VISIT
The tour lasts about an hour and takes place partly on foot and partly aboard a small electric train; the route is just over one kilometer long. Along the way, visitors can observe the mineral veins and learn about mining methods, ranging from the oldest—in which the rock was heated for hours with burning wood and then cooled with powerful jets of cold water to cause it to crack— to the most modern ones, which involve the use of explosives. As you walk along the tracks, you’ll learn how the tracks, the railcars, and the various pieces of machinery used in the past operate. Along the route, you’ll also come across the Camerone di Santa Barbara and the Layer Shaft, where there are two elevators that descend to a depth of 240 meters.
On leaving the mine, it is important to devote time to visiting the well-kept and very explanatory museum, which completes the experience and conveys the spirit of the period to the observer.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The mine tour does not present any technical difficulties, but the path can be slippery in some sections due to the humidity, which is 98%. Closed-toe shoes, such as sneakers or hiking boots, are required. A hard hat is provided at the entrance. The temperature remains constant at 6°. We recommend wearing a heavy jacket and long pants.
The story told in the mining museum
THE FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND THE VAULT
In 1991, the forced closure of the mine, whose mining vein could have yielded another two decades, was followed by a major community-wide protest resulting in a 17-day occupation of the quarry. This was not only because the mine was a source of livelihood for many families, but also because the people of Cave felt a strong sense of community and belonging and, contrary to popular belief, the mine was much loved. Visiting the administrative offices, this sense of inclusion still shines through the period photos, the presence of convivial areas, the “women’s room,” and the room dedicated to corporate after-work activities. All areas have been kept unchanged, and one can see the accounting instruments, the vault with the safes and pension fund, the director’s office, and the administrative offices.
THE VIDEO ROOM.
The jovial atmosphere and strong sense of belonging of the entire community of Cave del Predil is evidenced by the interviews made with miners and villagers, which can be seen in the video room on the second floor. The stories convey bitterness over the mine’s closure, but also illustrate some mining processes.
Reservations, times and prices
OPENING DAYS AND TIMES
The Cave del Predil Mine is open year-round, but visiting days and hours vary depending on the season. Generally speaking, during June, July, and August, it is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
From October through May, it is open only on Saturdays and Sundays, with one tour at 11:00 a.m. and another at 2:30 p.m. The mine is also open on national holidays, except December 24 and 25, and every day from December 26 through January 10.
DURATION OF THE VISIT
The guided tour lasts one hour, plus a part dedicated to the Museum of Mining Tradition, included in the ticket, which is important to fully understand what was seen in the quarry.
COST OF TICKET
The unit price of the ticket is €15 for regular and €12 for reduced and includes a visit to the International Geomining Park and the Mining Museum. If interested, at a cost of €18, you can add a visit to the Military Historical Museum “Julian Alps,” which is located a short distance away.
RESERVATIONS
Each tour has a limited number of places and the mine attracts many visitors; therefore, advance reservations are required.
getting there and parking
The mine entrance is about 50 meters from the Museum of Mining Tradition, where the ticket office is located. Free and easy parking is available in front of the museum and in the immediate vicinity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The tour through the tunnels has some limitations. Now that the electric train is in operation, we recommend contacting the visitor center directly to check whether the tour is feasible based on your specific needs.
Yes. The tour inside the mine is partly on foot and partly aboard a small electric train.
The Julian Alps Military History Museum houses an extensive collection of archival materials, as well as weapons and other military artifacts dating from various periods, ranging from the Napoleonic Wars
to World War II.
Inside, the temperature remains constant at 6 degrees, regardless of the season, and the humidity is 98%. You’ll need a jacket and closed-toe shoes, even in the middle of summer.
Request information
Through this section you can request information about visiting the mine. Advance reservation is mandatory.
MUSEUM INFORMATION AND VISITOR CENTER:
Museo Miniera Cave del Predil
Largo Mazzini, 7
Cave del Predil
33018 – Tarvisio (UD)
VISITING CENTER HOURS
- June through September: daily from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- October through May: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
PHONE:
Send an email
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