130th anniversary of the March Mountains mining disaster

Every town has its own history, ours has been linked to mining since time immemorial. The people of Příbram are proud of their town's history, which is reflected, among other things, by the organisation of regular mining events. This year, among other things, we are commemorating the 130th anniversary of the March Mountain mining disaster.

If we had the opportunity to go back 130 years, we would be only a few days away from the biggest mining disaster in the world at that time in the field of ore mining and the biggest in the history of the Czech mining business, which affected hundreds of families from Příbram, Březové Hory and surrounding villages. On Tuesday , 31 May 1892, probably by a coincidence of unfortunate events, a fire broke out in the Marie mine. The fumes soon spread underground to the surrounding shafts and the whole disaster claimed 319 lives.

On the anniversary day, Tuesday 31 May 2022, we will commemorate the events with a commemorative event, but we can also invite the public to Saturday 28 May, when the so-called Remembrance Day will be held at the Mining Museum.

"On Saturday, 28 May, we will welcome the public to the Ševčinský Mine, where on that day, in addition to the commemorative event, we will also hold a Museum Night. The programme includes musical performances from 4 pm to 10 pm, featuring the singer-songwriter Petr Vašina and the choirs Arytmie Praha and Gambale. In addition, visitors can look forward to the screening of documentary footage and, of course, we will commemorate the events of 1892. In the area of the Ševčinský mine, a memorial site will be prepared with 319 candles for 319 miners and rescuers who died in the aforementioned mining accident," says Josef Velfl, director of the Mining Museum Příbram, adding: "As I have already mentioned, the memorial event is connected with the Museum Night programme, so visitors will be able to see selected exhibitions at an unusual time on this day. I would also like to extend the invitation to include tours of the Mariánská Štěla, which start at 4, 5 and 6 pm. The whole commemorative day will therefore not only be about historical events. Among other things, I could also mention the unveiling of the sculpture of Ivan Lošák, The Miner's Wedding, which the Mining Museum acquired for its collections from the town of Příbram."

The events of 1892 can be recalled by the citizens and visitors of the town on the information panels at the places connected with the described events. The route with the first information panel starts at the Březohorské cemetery and other stops follow at the Marie Mine, the Ševčinský Mine and the former mining directorate building on T. G. Masaryk Square. The last information panel is located at the Příbram cemetery.

To explore the history, you can use the game Marie in Flames, which can be downloaded from the mobile app Hidden Stories. "It is definitely good to remember the mining past. The 130th anniversary of the Březohorské mining disaster offers a unique opportunity to make us even more aware that the town of Příbram was, is and will be a mining town. On the day of the anniversary, i.e. on Tuesday 31 May, we can gather at several important places for the commemorative event," said Mayor Jan Konvalinka, adding that many thanks go to all those who participated in the event organised by the Municipal Cultural Centre in cooperation with mining and metallurgical associations.

The commemorative event on 31 May 2022

16.00 Příbram Cemetery
17.00 Březohorský cemetery
17.30 Church of St. Vojtěch - Concert of the Vepřek Mixed Choir
18.00 Marie Mine Courtyard - Memorial to the widows of the victims of the mining disaster
19.00 Marie Mine - black beer gathering