Underground, it is 8 to 10 °C all year round: a mine visit is sheltered from the rain, in October as in July. What remains to be checked is whether the site is open, because several Vosges mines cut their hours in autumn or close for winter. Here is, from the official sites read on 30 September 2026, what is open during the Toussaint (All Saints) school holidays (Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November 2026 for all zones) and at what price.
The Hautes-Mynes du Thillot: the copper of the Dukes of Lorraine
The Hautes-Mynes du Thillot is a former copper mine worked by the Dukes of Lorraine from 1560 to 1761. The site lets you go down into the Rouge-Montagne mine, dug in granite, with helmet and headlamp provided, follow a mining discovery trail in the open countryside and visit a museum. According to the site, the Thillot mines were, on a European scale, the first place where black powder was used to extract ore. Reception and ticket office are at 47 rue de la Gare, 88160 Le Thillot (phone: 03 29 25 03 33).
In autumn, the hours change. From 1 October to 11 November 2026, the Hautes-Mynes are open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 7pm, with a last departure for the mine at 4pm. During school holidays, so from 17 October to 1 November for Toussaint, they are open every day from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 7pm, last departure at 4pm. From 12 November to 21 December, visits are by reservation, and the site is closed on 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
During school holidays, the site also announces themed night visits: tales and legends of the mine, in the footsteps of the miners of old, or discovering the bats, with the next dates announced for the autumn holidays. They last 2 hours, are open from age 5 and 1 m tall, cost €14.50 for an adult and €10.50 for a child, and require advance booking on 03 29 25 03 33. The official 2026 calendar also marks Halloween on Friday 30 October without detailing the programme: it is best to ask by phone.
Individual prices for the daytime visit:
| Option | Duration | Adult | Child (5 to 17) | Reduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Museum, mining discovery trail and Rouge-Montagne mine | 2h15 | €11 | €8.50 | €9.50 |
| Museum and mining discovery trail | 1h30 | €6 | €3 | not stated |
| Museum only | 45 min | €3.50 | €2 | not stated |
Entry is free under 5, and a €39 family rate covers 2 adults and 3 children. Practical points: the Rouge-Montagne mine is open from age 5 and 1 m tall, but not with a pushchair or a baby carrier, and the site is not suited to people with reduced mobility. Dogs are allowed on a lead on the discovery trail and in the museum (except large dogs), not in the mine. The mining site is 3 km from the museum, reached by car on a mountain road: winter equipment is required from 1 November to 31 March. Tickets can only be bought at the museum reception, on arrival. The site gives a duration of 2h15 to 2h30 depending on the page, and 8 or 9 °C in the mine.
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines: Tellure and the Aventure des Mines
On the other side of the massif, in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (Haut-Rhin), two organisations offer visits to silver mines.
Tellure is a park built on the Saint-Jean Engelsbourg mine. The standard visit lasts two hours: an hour in an audio-guided museum (panoramic cinema, optical theatre), then an hour guided through the mine galleries, with helmet and headlamp provided. It is about 10 °C down there. The site announces opening until 1 November, Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm, then closure for the winter season: 1 November 2026 falls on a Sunday, the last day of the Toussaint holidays. The site’s prices are €14 for an adult and €10 for children from age 5, students and jobseekers, with free entry under 5. Tellure’s pages do not answer the question of booking the standard visit in the same way: booking online or calling 03 89 49 98 30 removes any doubt. No minimum age is displayed; the child must be able to wear a helmet and walk for an hour, or be carried in a front baby carrier.
L’Aventure des Mines, run by the ASEPAM association, offers two guided visits, by reservation from 2 people. The Gabe Gottes mine, the last to close in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (in 1940, according to the association), can be visited from age 4 in 1h45 to 2 hours including 45 minutes underground: €12 for an adult, €8 for a child aged 5 to 15. The Saint-Louis Eisenthür mine, opened in 1549, takes 3 hours including 45 minutes of guided walking in the forest, is open from age 5 and costs €15 for an adult, €10 for a child aged 5 to 15. Visits take place every day at 2pm during school holidays outside summer, so for Toussaint, and on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm outside the holidays. A lit helmet, boots and waterproofs are provided and it is 10 °C all year round. On site, payment is by cheque, holiday voucher or cash, not by bank card (online payment is possible). The “Les Chemins de l’Argent” (Silver Paths) exhibition is free to enter. Contact: 03 89 58 62 11. Because of works, reception is at 86 rue Wilson; the meeting point for booked visits remains 5 rue Kroeber Imlin.
Grandfontaine: closed for a technical reason
In the Bruche valley (Bas-Rhin), the Grandfontaine iron mines, fitted out for visitors by the municipality in 1981, are shown as closed for a technical reason by the Bruche valley tourist office, with no reopening date given. Better to obtain confirmation of reopening before going.
Comparing the Toussaint visits
| Site | Ore | Duration | Adult | Opening from 17 October to 1 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hautes-Mynes du Thillot | copper | 2h15 to 2h30 | €11 | every day, 10am-1pm and 2pm-7pm (last departure 4pm) |
| Tellure | silver | 2h | €14 | Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm (until 1 November) |
| ASEPAM, Gabe Gottes | silver | 1h45 to 2h | €12 | every day at 2pm, by reservation |
| ASEPAM, Saint-Louis Eisenthür | silver | 3h | €15 | every day at 2pm, by reservation |
| Grandfontaine | iron | not stated | not stated | closed for a technical reason |
Going further
A mining day combines with other indoor visits: our guide to Le Thillot, gateway to the Hautes-Vosges, the Ventron textile museum and the textile mills of the Hautes-Vosges extend the discovery, and the heritage and history hub sets the context. Our Hautes-Mynes guide details the visit; its opening hours cover the summer season, the autumn ones are given above. For another rainy-day idea, see also the cinemas around La Bresse and the selection what to do in La Bresse when it rains.
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Frequently asked questions
Which mine is open during the 2026 Toussaint holidays?
The Hautes-Mynes du Thillot are open every day from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 7pm (last departure for the mine at 4pm). Tellure, in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, is announced open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm until 1 November. The ASEPAM offers silver mine visits every day at 2pm, by reservation.
How cold is it in a Vosges mine?
The sites state between 8 and 10 °C: 8 or 9 °C at the Hautes-Mynes depending on the site's pages, about 10 °C at Tellure and with the ASEPAM. A warm jacket and closed shoes are necessary.
Can you buy Hautes-Mynes du Thillot tickets in advance?
No: the site states that tickets are bought only at the museum reception, 47 rue de la Gare in Le Thillot, on arrival (except gift vouchers). Booking by phone on 03 29 25 03 33 is very strongly recommended for the Rouge-Montagne mine and required for the night visits.
From what age can you visit these mines?
The Rouge-Montagne (Le Thillot) is open from age 5 and 1 m tall. In Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, the Gabe Gottes mine can be visited from age 4 and the Saint-Louis Eisenthür mine from age 5. Tellure displays no minimum age; the child must be able to wear a helmet and walk for an hour.