Dubník Opal Mines

Eastern Slovakia has been mined for decades for opals. It’s one of the most mined locations for the precious gemstones in the world outside of Australia. 

Today, you can actually walk through the shafts under Dubník hill, smell the opal, and uncover the history of mining in the region. One of the most famous opals ever discovered was found under Dubník, named Trojan Fire. The jewel once adorned the neck of Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon. The world’s largest opal was also discovered in the Dubník. The opal, dubbed Harlequin, was discovered in 1775 and contained 2,970 carats.