From 25 to 27 April, the MINES.B Federation partners had the privilege of being guests of the partners from Slovakia, warmly welcomed by the Barborská Cesta team.
The ‘Mining Treasures of Central Slovakia’ conference, held on 25 April in the city of Banska Bystrica, was the highlight of this event. During the occasion, the European Mining Route of Santa Barbara Federation was introduced to the participants.
Attendees learned about existing ‘mining routes’, such as the Barborská Cesta in Slovakia, the GR412 (Le Sentier des Terrils) in Belgium and the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara in Italy. In addition, new mining routes were presented, such as the ‘Caminos Mineros’ of the Comarca Andorra Sierra de Arcos and the Mining Route of Santa Barbara, which will cross the mining area of the Slovenian town of Idrija.
A moment was dedicated to the opening of the travelling photographic exhibition ‘Men and Women of Mining‘, organised in collaboration with the Federation’s members. This exhibition aims to tell the story of the men, women and children who worked in the mines, preserving their historical memory and commemorating their contribution to the development of European mining communities. The selected photographs highlighted the common cultural identity uniting the partner nations through their struggles, labours and devotion to Saint Barbara, the universal patron saint of miners.
During the conference, a discussion panel was also held with the other Federation partners: a valuable moment to exchange experiences, know-how and to tell the story of the birth of each of the individual realities.
On 26 April, the General Assembly of the MINES.B Federation was held, during which important decisions were taken and the activities completed to date and plans for the future were reviewed, such as the preparation for the next candidature between the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
But what made this meeting truly special was the opportunity to immerse oneself in the mining history of the central region of Slovakia, to explore the town of Banska Bystrica, the mining village of Spania Dolina and to walk along parts of the Barborská Cesta. It was a journey not only through physical places, but also through the stories and traditions that bind the stop-off points of the Slovakian route.
This meeting strengthened the ties between the MINES.B Federation partners, confirming the importance of international cooperation in the valorisation and conservation of the European mining heritage.
