Good luck at Sauberg: The Ehrenfriedersdorf visitor mine, 100 meters underground

With the traditional miners’ greeting, “Glück Auf!”, an unforgettable journey into the depths begins. The Zinngrube Ehrenfriedersdorf visitor mine at the foot of the Sauberg is a decommissioned mine. Since 2019, it has rightfully been a part of the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

We were there on-site and made the descent. Join us 100 meters underground into a world of rock, moisture, and fascinating technology.

The Adventure Begins: 100 Meters into the Deep

A visit to the Ehrenfriedersdorf visitor mine is an incredible journey into the working world of the miners.

Change Room, Cage, and Cool Air: The Descent

The first path leads us into the “Kaue,” the large changing room. Miners’ clothing dangles from the ceiling. At the start of a shift, these are hung on hooks and pulled up. A lock prevents anyone else from taking the items. Our valuables will also wait for us, hanging from the ceiling.

Equipped with a protective cap, helmet, and headlamp, we follow the path of the miners. For our tour, no further protective clothing is needed, though there are other tours where it is required.

First, we took a “Seilfahrtsmarke” (descent token) from a board. Every miner must take this token before entering the pit. This was the only way to track exactly how many people were underground. On a board, the marking followed as to where – meaning to which depth – we would be traveling.

Even during this short ride, the atmosphere changes noticeably: the air becomes cooler and more humid, the noises of the day fall silent and are replaced by the creaking of the machinery. Upon reaching the bottom, visitors are greeted by a constant temperature of 8°C, which prevails all year round. I was very relieved to be able to step out of the cramped cage.

Rattling, Noise, and Tunnels: Underground

Down here, you enter a world preserved in its original state—with narrow tunnels, impressive excavation chambers, and the traces of centuries of labor in the rock.

Before we set off, we were shown the emergency telephone. Obviously, cell phones don’t work here, but this old telephone with a hand crank didn’t exactly inspire confidence either.

The mine train was already waiting for us, rattling us a few meters deeper into the tunnel. It wasn’t as narrow here as I had feared; I found the passage to be rather generously sized. When we finally stopped, our journey into the miners’ work truly began. At several stations, the process of ore mining was demonstrated using original machines, complete with original noise and dust. My ears started aching after just a few minutes. What must it have been like for the miners who worked here for eight hours straight?

Unfortunately, the time underground passed far too quickly. I would have loved to venture even further into the mine and learn much more. We took the mine train back to the hoisting cage, which brought us back to daylight. What a tour.

800 Years in the Rock: The History of the Sauberg

What we just experienced as the modern technology of the GDR era is only the final chapter of an 800-year history.

From “Seifen” to Deep Mining: The Beginnings

The emergence of Ehrenfriedersdorf around the year 1200 is directly linked to the discovery of rich tin deposits. Initially, the tin ore was simply washed out of the stream sediments in the Seifen Valley—a process known as “Seifen” (streaming). This relatively simple form of surface mining enabled a rapid economic boom.

A Struggle by Hand: The Hardship of Early Work

As mining progressed to ever-greater depths, water management became the central technical problem. Infiltrating mine water threatened the excavations and necessitated elaborate drainage systems. Around 1540, a groundbreaking invention occurred in Ehrenfriedersdorf: the Ehrenfriedersdorfer Radpumpe (wheel pump). This made it possible to lift water out of the deeper mine workings.

Despite such technical masterpieces, the miners’ work was characterized by unimaginable hardship. Before the invention of gunpowder in mining, hard rock was laboriously removed by hand using a hammer and chisel. For particularly hard rock, the ancient method of “Feuersetzen” (fire-setting) was used. Large wood fires were ignited directly in front of the rock to make it brittle and cracked through the heat. Subsequent quenching with water could intensify the effect through thermal shock.

War, the “Wende,” and World Heritage: The 20th Century

The following centuries were marked by fluctuations. The 20th century reflected the extremes of German history: production for the First World War, decommissioning in 1922, and the resumption of mining under the National Socialists in 1936.

After 1945, the facility was dismantled as reparations. However, reconstruction began as early as 1948. During the GDR era, the mine was expanded into a modern industrial operation—the technology we see today during the tour.

The end came with the political turning point (Wende). Due to a lack of profitability on the world market, ore production was ceased on October 3, 1990. After extensive stabilization work, the Sauberg found its new purpose: in 1995, the mine was officially opened as the Ehrenfriedersdorf Visitor Mine.

Visit to the Ehrenfriedersdorf Visitor Mine: Tours & Info

Got the urge to enter the mine yourself? The Ehrenfriedersdorf visitor mine offers two main guided tours.

The Tourist Tour is designed as an accessible introduction to the world of mining. It is aimed at families, including those with children, as well as visitors who want a compact but impressive overview. The focus here is on more modern mining from the GDR era, showcasing typical sites and machinery from that period.

The Experience Tour, on the other hand, is significantly more comprehensive. It is intended for visitors who want to dive deeper into the history and technology. This tour covers the entire spectrum of mining, from the traces of medieval historical mining to the geology of the deposit and modern extraction techniques. Participants are equipped with full miner’s gear—overalls, rubber boots, helmet, and lighting (headlamp)—which considerably increases the sense of authenticity. Highlights of this tour include the viewing of the replica of the historic Ehrenfriedersdorfer wheel pump and a ride on the mine train, which leads through the “Tiefen Sauberger Stolln” (Deep Sauberg Adit).

Additionally, surface tours (“Sauberg Tour”) and various special tours on specific topics are offered. For international guests, audio guides are available in English, Czech, and Dutch.

Visitor Information

Address

Am Sauberg 1,
09427 Ehrenfriedersdorf

Webseite

The visit to the mine took place as part of a press trip.