Schaubergwerk Museum Oberzeiring

About the museum

Silver mining can be traced in the upper Pölstal as early as around 1000 BC. Oberzeiring, first documented in 1267 and elevated to a market town in 1279, was famous in the Middle Ages for its silver mine and held all the rights of a mining town. In 1284 the town received the minting right for the "Zeyringer Pfennig"; until 1663 it was the seat of the mining court. The mine reached its height at the end of the 13th century; in 1361 it flooded. Later attempts to drain the tunnels failed, including ventures under Emperor Maximilian I and Maria Theresa. Besides silver, iron ore and around 45 minerals were found, among them zeiringite.

In 1958 the then tourism association made a small part of the old mine accessible as a show tunnel and opened a museum room. The show tunnel was expanded and modernized in the following years and was renovated in 2000 because of new safety requirements. In 2016 a new shop was added; in 2017 the site reopened after extensive renovation of the show tunnel and museum. In 2018 the house received the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality (Österreichisches Museumsgütesiegel).

Today miners lead visitors through a 445-meter route with around 600 steps and medieval crawl tunnels. The museum in the village center tells the history of mining in the sections Middle Ages and Modern Times; a theme trail with 14 stations explores the town.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the historic silver mine (445 m route)
• Medieval crawl tunnels and mining technology
• Museum on the history of the silver town of Zeiring, with Middle Ages and modern sections
• Mining theme trail with 14 stations in the village
• Zeiringite and other minerals from the mountain

Permanent exhibitions

• Schaubergwerk Oberzeiring – Guided walk through part of the medieval silver mine with crawl tunnels, stairways and mining technology.
• Museum Oberzeiring: Mittelalter und Neuzeit – Museum rooms on the history of silver mining and the mining town of Zeiring, divided into the Middle Ages and modern times.

Founded

1958

Operated by

Verein Schaubergwerk Museum Oberzeiring

Admission & discounts

Museum visit (without guided tour): adults €7, children €5. All prices include 13% VAT.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, the show mine tour covers around 600 steps; the lowest point lies 34.4 m below the entrance.

Kids & families

Child tour rate from age 4 (ages 4–14); family ticket for 2 adults and 1 child.

Getting there & parking

Shop, museum and starting point for the tours are located in the center of the market town, Marktplatz 3.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Souvenir shop at Marktplatz 3 (newly opened in 2016) with books on mining; also an online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit