Krapan: Mining History and Walking Trails

If you are considering Krapan as a travel destination, the focus is above all on its mining history and the trails connected with this heritage. Historical dates, industrial facilities and the Church of Sv. Barbara tell of different chapters in the town’s history. There are also mining trails that include Krapan on their routes and offer a different way to explore the surrounding area.

Mining History Across Several Eras

Krapan’s history as a mining town can be understood through two milestones: regular coal production began there in 1785; continuous coal mining in Labinština began in the 1830s at three mines in Krapan. During the early period of mining, “rusi” was also extracted, a substance used as tar to coat boats and ships. These details show that the mining history is not limited to a single date or one mine.

An important change followed in 1881: the Trifailer Kohlenwerks-Gesellschaft acquired the mines in Krapan and the Vinež shaft. It brought the mines of Labinština together into a single production and technical complex. This consolidation marks a distinct chapter in industrial history, alongside the earlier beginnings of mining.

Church, Workshop and Railway

The Church of Sv. Barbara was built in Krapan in 1905. It is dedicated to the patron saint of miners, linking it to the local mining history. The later use of the industrial facilities also shows how work in the area changed: after the Second World War, the mine’s former workshop was converted into the Prvomajska machine-tool factory. After the mine closed, Krapan remained industrially active until the factory closed in the early 1990s.

The Krapan–Štalije railway is also part of the historical context. It was built for horse-drawn traffic; shortly afterwards, a steam locomotive was introduced. In this way, transport and industrial history add to the story of mining, without equating the historic railway line with today’s walking trails.

Mining Trails and Walking Routes

A circular Labin–Raša–Labin route passes through Krapan. Another specific route is the Krapan–Sv. Bartul mining trail: it is 1.7 kilometres long, is considered easy, and runs at an elevation of between 87 and 265 metres. The circular route can be understood by its Labin–Raša–Labin course, while the length, difficulty and elevation range provide guidance for the trail to Sv. Bartul. You can consider the two routes according to the features given for each.

The landscape is also part of the experience on the mining trails leading to Krapan, including encounters with nature and views of the surrounding hills. The tour “Kamen, ugljen i onda je sve počelo” leads to Krapan, considered the mining centre of Labinština. As part of the tour, guests travel by bus to Kapelica and walk down to Krapan from there along a mining trail.

An Educational Walk for Students

An educational walk for students led to the entrance of the first mine. Along the way, former mining infrastructure was identified and locations connected with the early coal production in Labinština were explained. This specific walk shows another way to engage with the history: rather than following trails through the surrounding area, the focus here is on understanding the former mining sites.

In the Wider Destination of Općina Raša

Within the wider destination of Općina Raša, Raša was built between 1936 and 1937 as a planned mining town, based on designs by architect Gustavo Pulitzer Finali. The Church of Sv. Barbara in Raša is a modernist and rationalist building with a 25-metre-high tower. Its shape is reminiscent of an upturned mining cart, while the bell tower resembles a miner’s lamp. Centar Arsia presents the town’s mining heritage in a small museum on Raša’s town square. The historical background also includes the fact that the Raša mine employed more than 10,000 miners from 1928 to 1966.

Discover more destinations: Gondolići, Presika, Kranjci, Gora Glušići, Ripenda Verbanci, Ripenda Kras, Bartići, Ripenda Kras.

Go to the wider travel overview: Općina Labin.