A visit to Vagonetto offers a rich, hands-on educational and entertaining experience for children, young people, educators, and families. It serves as a vibrant learning laboratory in the heart of a region filled with archaeological monuments, museums, and historical sites. Discover it!
What is the Mining Park?
The Fokida Mining Park – Vagonetto is a unique thematic park in Greece. Its goal is not only to present the operational areas of a mine but also to inform, entertain, and educate new generations about the history of bauxite exploitation. The journey into the history of bauxite begins at the old mine, Stoa 850, continues through the Exhibition Area of Mining History, and concludes with an interactive visit to the Digital Technology Wing.
Underground Stoa 850
The visit to Stoa 850 begins with the Vagonetto, the small train used by workers forty years ago, which now transports visitors to the start of the tour. From there, they walk through the mine, experiencing its unique exhibits. The tour through the old mine is a kaleidoscope of bauxite history and the lives of the people who worked there.
Exhibition Area of Mining History
In this space, visitors learn about bauxite—what it is, how it was formed, how it is explored, and how it is extracted. They gain insight into its uses and applications, as well as efforts to protect the environment and ensure worker safety.
Digital Technology Wings
This specially designed area features screens shaped like stalactites. The digital wing consists of three distinct rooms, each with its own color and unique story.
Blue Room: The history of bauxite
Red Room: The journey of bauxite and its transformation into aluminum.
Green Room: Virtual drilling experience
The Educational Value of the Park
A visit to the Fokida Mining Park is an exciting experience for students of all ages, from elementary to high school.
What They Will Learn:
- Once upon a time… there was a miner Through role-playing activities, students wear helmets and miner uniforms to discover how work was conducted inside a bauxite mining tunnel.
- Tools and Machines The evolution of bauxite extraction—from manual labor to the use of machines and vehicles.
- Working in a Mine Observing the Park’s exhibits, students gather information about the progression of working conditions and safety measures inside a mine.
- How is mining done? Through the tour and unique audiovisual effects, students understand the exact process of bauxite extraction.
- Restoration of the Natural Environment Mining and extraction activities impact the landscape and plant life. Students explore the various efforts made to restore the affected areas. The environmental policy includes gradual restoration of the landscape in regions affected by mining operations.
- Bauxite and its Derivatives What is bauxite used for? What are its by-products? In what everyday items does it serve as a raw material? A visit to the Exhibition Hall of Mining History provides answers to all these questions.