Strike it rich at Alsace’s innovative new leisure park

It is a little known fact that in the sixteenth century the region of Alsace in France experienced a ‘silver rush’. In 1502 silver was discovered in what is now known as the Val d’Argent and people travelled from all over Europe in the hope of striking it rich. Although many of them used only divining rods to seek their fortune there were plenty of success stories. One prospector even discovered a block of silver weighing 592 kg!

In June 2007 the Tellure silver mine will open once again, but this time not to those with pick-axes and hard hats but to the public with guide books and cameras. Visitors will be able to retrace the footsteps of those early prospectors as they journey through the high quality cave networks that run under the magnificent Vosges Mountains. One of Tellure’s most striking features is a 180 m high cave which provides a breath-taking illustration of the scale of the mining operations.

Tellure will use a variety of sound, light and video special effects as well as panoramic cinema and reconstructed scenes to provide a fully immersive experience. Many of the exhibits will be interactive and all will be translated into French, English and German with audio-guides also available. Tellure will also host an important collection of jewellery that has been made from silver and minerals found at the site, including pieces made by René Lalique and Cartier.

For more information on the Tellure silver mine please visit Tellure.fr.