Schaubergwerk Sunnpau
Mine with traces of copper mining from the Bronze Age to 1875 near St. Veit im Pongau, visited on a guided tour through the Erbstollen and Matthias gallery.
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About the museum
Near St. Veit im Pongau, copper ore was already being extracted around 4,000 years ago, at first above ground in pits (Pingen), and from about 1750 BC underground as well. When ironworking emerged around 800 BC, copper lost its importance. In the Middle Ages, from about 1300, prospecting resumed because copper was needed as an additive in gold smelting. The mine was finally shut down only in 1875.
In the Bronze Age Matthias gallery, visitors can see how miners worked the hard rock using only wooden wedges, stone hammers and fire-setting. In a dome formed by fire-setting, the Chapel, a grave from around 1100 BC was discovered; the highlight of the tour is the Great Hall, up to ten metres high, which is considered unique in Central Europe. In the more recent Erbstollen, visitors learn how work was later done with hammer and pick as well as black powder and dynamite.
The show mine is run by the St. Veit museum association and is part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Ore of the Alps. The tour begins in front of the portal of the Erbstollen and ends at reconstructed Bronze Age smelting furnaces, where it is explained how the ore was processed further. Finds and skeletal remains from the mine are displayed in the Seelackenmuseum.
Highlights
- Bronze Age mining with fire-setting in the Matthias gallery
- Great Hall, up to 10 metres high
- Grave from around 1100 BC
- Erbstollen with medieval and early modern mining technology
- Reconstructed Bronze Age smelting furnaces
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Museumsverein St. Veit
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €12Groups of 8 or more people, Gästekarte Sonnenterrasse, MÖ card |
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 5 · Children from 6 to 16 years (reduced €6) |
| Groups (8+ people) | €12 per personGroups of 8 or more people; tour outside opening hours: regular admission plus a surcharge of €80 per group |
| Surcharge for group tour outside opening hours | €80per group, in addition to admission |
Cash only. Free admission for children under 6 years, with the SalzburgerLand Card, for association members and with the Bäderkarte. Tour included in admission.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The gallery is not accessible to people with walking disabilities; the floor is uneven and the mine is narrow. Written tour texts in ten languages (including English, French, Polish, Czech, Russian, Dutch, Italian) for deaf guests and guests without knowledge of German; for visually impaired visitors, a separate tour with touching of the objects is available on request; guide dogs and white canes are permitted.
Kids & families
Recommended for ages 4+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
Admission for children from 4 years; reduced children's prices.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Urpass-Brenner · 20-min walk · 1.3 km
Bus line 581 from Schwarzach station to the Urpass-Brenner stop, then about 20 minutes on foot.
By car
Parking available · 10-min walk · 500 m to the entrance
Car park at the show mine, also for bicycles.
On foot along the Erzweg Kupfer (Copper Ore Trail) from the market square about 60 minutes (3.4 km), by bicycle about 35 minutes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | Tours in German, in English on request. Free audio guide via the Hearonymus app (search for Schaubergwerk Sunnpau). Sturdy footwear and a jacket are necessary; the temperature inside the mine is a constant 8 °C or so. Admission for children from 4 years. |
