Visitor mine and museum dedicated to the 550-year history of tin ore mining in Altenberg
Bergbaumuseum Altenberg
AltenbergNew on Amplifa
About the Bergbaumuseum Altenberg
The Bergbaumuseum Altenberg documents and brings to life the roughly 550-year history of tin ore mining in the mining town of Altenberg in the Eastern Ore Mountains, whose origins date back to around 1440 and which ended with the closure of the mine in 1991. The centerpiece is the Historic Tin Washing Plant of 1577, an original ore processing facility with a working stamp mill, water wheel and shaking tables. Above ground, the museum leads visitors through the tin washing plant and the open-air grounds; underground, through the Neubeschert Glück show adit with demonstrations of Altenberg haulage technology at the central shaft. Further offerings include the pit crater tour about the mine collapse of 1620, activities for children, Mettenschicht miners' celebrations, a 40 km cross-border mining heritage trail and a virtual tour. The museum is under public ownership of the town of Altenberg and is part of the World Heritage Region of the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region.
- Site
- Altenberg
- Processes
- Tin ore mining (historical, 1440–1991), Fire-setting (historical ore extraction), Ore processing (tin washing plant, historical 1577), Show adit tours, Historic Tin Washing Plant tours, Pit crater tours, Activities for children, Mettenschicht celebrations/miners' feast
- Materials
- Tin ore (Zwitter), Tin
- Certificates
- Family Badge Saxony (family-friendly establishment), Family Badge Saxony
- Industries
- Tourism, Museum/Visitor mine, World Heritage (Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region)
- 01
Historical underground ore extraction (fire-setting, adit advancement)
- 02
Hoisting and transport of the tin ore
- 03
Ore processing in the tin washing plant (stamp mill, shaking tables)
- 04
Processing of tin into metal
- 05
Documentation and communication at the museum
Geology, Ores and Historical Processes
Tin ore (Zwitter)
The Altenberg tin ore deposit (Zwitterstock) was one of the most significant tin deposits in Central Europe.
Tin
The metal mined and processed in Altenberg, the basis of the region's mining tradition.
Locations
Altenberg
DEMining museum with Historic Tin Washing Plant, show adit and open-air grounds
- Materials
- Tin ore (Zwitter), tin
- Historic Tin Washing Plant (1577): stamp mill, water wheel, shaking tables
- Neubeschert Glück show adit
- Hoisting machine central shaft (technology demonstration)
- Open-air exhibition
Experiences and Offerings
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tin ore mining (historical, 1440–1991)Other | – | – | – | – | Tin ore, Tin |
| Fire-setting (historical ore extraction)Other | – | – | – | – | Tin ore, Rock |
| Ore processing (tin washing plant, historical 1577)Other | – | – | – | – | Tin ore |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamp mill | – | – | – | 1577 | Historic Tin Washing Plant Altenberg |
| Water wheel | – | – | – | 1577 | Historic Tin Washing Plant Altenberg |
| Hoisting machine | – | – | – | – | Central shaft Altenberg |
| Shaking tables | – | – | – | – | Tin washing plant Altenberg |
Additional services
Quality and Awards
The Bergbaumuseum Altenberg has been awarded the family badge of the Free State of Saxony as a family-friendly establishment and is one of the few mines in which children from the age of 4 may go underground.
| Evidence | Altenberg |
|---|---|
| Family Badge Saxony |
History
- 1440
First ore discovery and start of tin ore mining in Altenberg
- 1451
Elector Friedrich II grants town charter to the mining settlement
- 1577
Construction of the Historic Tin Washing Plant as an ore processing facility
- 1620
Mine collapse – formation of the Altenberg pit crater
- 1991
Closure of tin ore mining; afterwards focus on tourism and the museum