Bergbaumuseum Schachtanlage Knesebeck

About the museum

The Knesebeck shaft belonged to the “Hilfe Gottes” mine in Bad Grund, the last ore mine in the Upper Harz, which closed on 31 March 1992. Ore had been mined here since the 16th century. As early as the late 1970s, the mining town of Bad Grund and Preussag AG negotiated over a museum on the shaft site; a lease was concluded in 1980, and in 1982 the Förderverein Bergbau- und Heimatmuseum Bad Grund was founded, which still runs the museum today.

Since 1997 an exhibition on more than 500 years of Grund mining history has been gradually taking shape in the former operations rooms, with ore specimens, parts of uniforms, banners and glass models of mines. Many machines and tools remained in their original place and show the technical development of the listed facility up to the end of operations, including the winding engine and a large electric compressor, both from 1923.

The landmark is the 47-metre-high hydro-compressor tower from 1912/13, probably the last surviving of its kind: falling water generated compressed air here until 1977 for the machines underground. Two restored wheel chambers recall the water wheels, up to twelve metres high, that powered the shaft in the 19th century. The site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Harz Water Management System; visitors explore it on guided tours above and below ground.

Highlights

• 47 m tall hydro-compressor tower from 1912/13
• Guided tour through the mine tunnel (approx. 8 °C)
• Historic winding engine and electric compressor from 1923
• Two restored wheel chambers for water wheels up to 12 m high
• Tours through the Eichelberg watercourses

Permanent exhibition

• Grundner Montangeschichte – Exhibition in the former operations rooms on more than 500 years of mining in Bad Grund, with ore specimens, uniforms, banners, glass models of mines and machines in their original location.

Operated by

Förderverein Bergbau- und Heimatmuseum Bad Grund e. V.

Admission & discounts

Card payment is not possible.

Accessibility

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

Dogs on a lead are welcome. The temperature in the tunnel is around 8 °C all year round.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthdays from April to October (from age 8, approx. 2.5 hours): rides on a mine cart and foreman's bicycle, stone chiselling with hammer and iron, and a walk through the tunnel with helmet and miner's lamp. An age-appropriate adventure tour can be booked for younger children.

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
• Private parties

Up to 30 guests.

The former miners' changing hall (approx. 30 people, with wood-burning stove) and the foreman's nook in the tunnel (max. 20 people, up to 2 hours) can be rented.

Plan your visit