Bergbaumuseum Altenberg
Museum in a historic tin ore processing plant from 1577, with a show adit, outdoor area and tours to the Altenberg Pinge (collapse crater).
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Altenberg Mining Museum commemorates about 550 years of tin ore mining: exploration of the deposit began around 1440, in 1451 the young mining settlement received town rights, and the mine was not shut down until 1991. The main building, the Historische Zinnwäsche (Historic Tin Washery), is an original preserved ore processing plant. It was first mentioned in 1577, when Hieronymus Naumann bought the already existing ore washery, which is why it was long known as the Naumann-Mühle. It is the last surviving witness of the former chain of stamp washeries along the Tiefenbach and has belonged to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří since July 2019.
The whole processing sequence can be followed on the lower floor: a stamp mill with 40 stamps crushed the ore, and the tin ore was washed out on long-stroke concentration tables powered by a working water wheel. The museum first opened to visitors in 1957; after an extensive reconstruction with investments of around 2.5 million DM, it reopened in October 1994.
The complex also includes the "Neubeschert Glück" show adit, open to visitors since 1971, an outdoor area with mine locomotives, drilling equipment and a ball mill, and a lapidarium with stone boundary markers from Altenberg's mining history. In the summer half-year, a hike leads to the edge of the Pinge, the collapse crater formed in 1620; a 40-kilometer mining heritage trail complements the offer. The facility also looks after the Besucherbergwerk Zinnwald (Zinnwald show mine).
Highlights
- Historic tin washery from 1577 with working stamp mill and water wheel
- Show adit tour with machine demonstrations (about 8 °C)
- Outdoor area with mine locomotives and mining equipment to touch
- Guided hike to the edge of the Altenberg Pinge
- Hands-on activities for children, such as mineral washing and the miner's diploma
- Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Montanregion Erzgebirge
Permanent exhibitions
- Historische Zinnwäsche – Vom Erz zum Zinn – The original preserved ore processing plant of 1577 shows, with stamp mill, water wheel and long-stroke tables, the path from ore to tin concentrate.
- Schaustollen „Neubeschert Glück“ – Guided tour through the adit with reconstructed workplaces for ore extraction, from fire-setting to modern caving methods.
- Freifläche und Lapidarium – Mine locomotives, ore wagons, drilling equipment and a ball mill, as well as historic stone boundary markers from Altenberg's mining history, in the open air.
- Founded
- 1957
- Operated by
- Stadt Altenberg
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 3 · Children under 4 free; school students in groups of 10 or more €3. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personSchool groups of 10 or more students: €3 per student; accompanying adults €3. |
| Families | €13Family ticket for the Historische Zinnwäsche |
| Show adit tour including museum admission – adults | €9Reduced €6, family ticket €24, students (from 10) €4.50. |
| Pinge tour (May–October) | €7Reduced €4; tickets at the Altenberg Tourist Information. |
| Mettenschicht (traditional night shift) with miners' feast | €44Per person, mulled wine and drinks included; inquiry required. |
| Activities for children (from) | €3Depending on the activity; with the guest card from €2. |
Reduced prices apply with the Gästekarte (guest card): tin washery €4, family ticket €11, show adit €8, Pinge tour €6. Photography permission is included in the price.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- 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
The museum is partially accessible for people with disabilities. The show adit tour is about 400 m long.
Kids & families
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 4+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €13 · Family ticket for the Historische Zinnwäsche |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Certified as a family-friendly business in Saxony. Children from age 4 may enter the adit. On activity days, children can wash out minerals, go treasure hunting, make mining lamps, listen to legends and stories and earn the miner's diploma. The outdoor area with mining equipment may be touched.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Platz des Bergmanns, Altenberg · 700 m
It is about 1.5 km from Altenberg train station to the museum. The bus stop "Platz des Bergmanns" is about 700 m away and the stop "Siedlung" only about 200 m, but it is served much less often.
By car
Parking available
Car and bus parking directly near the museum (Parkplatz Mühlenstraße).
By car via the A 17 (exit Bad Gottleuba – Lauenstein – Geising – Altenberg) or the B 170 (Dresden – Dippoldiswalde – Altenberg).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Lockers
At the museum cash desk you can buy mining literature, postcards, minerals and souvenirs; bags, backpacks and valuables can be locked away in the cash desk area.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography is included in the admission. |
| Good to know | The show adit tour lasts about 1.5 hours and takes place from two persons; hard hats are provided. The adit stays at about 8 °C all year round, so warm clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended. On request, tours with the machines in the tin washery running and tours with flashlights are offered. Information sheets are available in English and Czech; group tours in Czech after prior registration. Please register group visits. |
