The Fournel Silver Mine of the Pays des Écrins
The Fournel Silver MineAn underground adventure in L’Argentière-la-Bessée
There are places where history jumps out at you. The Fournel Silver Mine is one of them. Nestled at the bottom of the wild gorges of L’Argentière-la-Bessée, it takes you on a mineral journey that is as impressive as it is fascinating.
Centuries of exploitation
Here, silver-bearing lead has been extracted since the Middle Ages. Between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, miners used to dig into ultra-hard rock, up to 150 metres underground. And it’s not over! In 1785, the vein was rediscovered: 400 workers (many of whom came from Italy) took turns to produce 4 to 5 tons of ore per day. Direction Marseille for the casting, and the Argentière becomes a flourishing mining town.
Since the 1990s, the galleries have been brought back to life thanks to passionate archaeologists. Bruno, the caretaker of the place for 30 years, likes to remind us that the Fournel torrent had covered everything – but this chaos has allowed for exceptional conservation. Today, we explore nearly a kilometre of galleries, in the heart of a unique site in France.
A life-size visit
Guided tours, escape games, private tours… The mine combines history and total immersion. The setting is raw, the stories captivating, the sensations very real. We touch the daily life of these workers in the shadows, in a place where each wall tells a piece of history.
Practical information
- Gorges du Fournel, L’Argentière-la-Bessée
- Easy access from the village. Departure of visits to the interpretation centre.
- Information and reservations: consult the official website.