Altes Kalkbergwerk Miltitz

About the museum

At Miltitz in the Triebisch valley, limestone was probably already being extracted before 1400 for construction purposes and as fertiliser; in 1571 the mine first appears in documents. At first it was worked in an open quarry, and from the early 19th century also underground. Across four levels, the workings eventually reached a depth of around 60 metres, creating large cavities. Geologically, these are limestone lenses in the slate mountains that were transformed into marble by rising magma.

Shortly before the First World War, the reserves were largely exhausted; during the war, part of the mine collapsed and four miners were killed. Production ended in October 1924, and the mine filled with groundwater. In 1944/45, a fuel factory was to be built here under code names, with facilities that concentration camp prisoners had to construct under inhuman conditions; 17 of them are buried in the Miltitz cemetery.

In July 2000, the then municipality of Triebischtal opened the show mine, in which qualified divers can also explore the flooded areas under guidance. After a rockfall in 2017, the circular route was secured and refurbished with EU funding; since October 2021, the mine, now operated by the municipality of Klipphausen, has been open again.

Highlights

• Large stope caverns in the marble across several levels
• Underground circular route with information boards
• Flooded section of the mine, explorable by divers
• Powder chamber as a venue available for hire
• Winter roost for bats

Permanent exhibition

• Führung durch das Alte Kalkbergwerk – Tour through the large mined cavities in the marble with information on geology, mining history and the use of the site in the Second World War.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Gemeinde Klipphausen

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 6+

Admission only from age 6; children's ticket up to age 14 and family ticket.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The powder chamber in the mine can be hired for up to 5 hours for €175, with a guided tour on request; enquiries in writing by email.

Plan your visit