Besucherbergwerk 19-Lachter-Stollen

About the museum

The 19-Lachter-Stollen in Wildemann is one of the most important installations of the old Upper Harz silver mining. It was a drainage adit: it drained mine water from higher-lying mines and made the operation of many mines in the Zellerfeld and Clausthal districts possible in the first place. Driving began in 1551; the miners only reached their goal in 1690, with hammer and chisel, after a length of about 8.8 kilometers.

Ore deposits were also opened up from the adit. In 1845 the 261-meter-deep Ernst-August shaft was sunk, which is considered a rare surviving example of a blind shaft. It is connected to the Ernst-August adit, which broke through in 1864 with a length of about 32.7 kilometers and was then regarded as the largest tunnel construction in the world.

About half a kilometer of the adit is accessible to visitors again today. The tour shows ironwork, timber and masonry supports, an underground wheel chamber (Radstube) with remains of a nine-meter-diameter Kehrrad (reversing water wheel), and the turbine and compressor room with a machine ensemble from 1914. The electric winding machine, which ran until the plant was shut down in 1924, can also be seen. The show mine thus presents three periods of Upper Harz mining between 1551 and 1924.

Highlights

• Tour through the 19-Lachter-Stollen and the Ernst-August mine
• Radstube with remains of a 9 m diameter Kehrrad
• Turbine and compressor room from 1914 with machine ensemble
• Electric winding machine until its shutdown in 1924
• Children's tour "Mining and Stamping Diploma" with stamp boy Johann

Permanent exhibition

• Besucherbergwerk 19-Lachter-Stollen und Grube Ernst-August – Tour through the adit, the Radstube, and the turbine and compressor room, showing the water management and technology of Upper Harz mining from 1551 to 1924.

Admission & discounts

With the Harz Card the tour is free.

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

The route is about 1,000 m long (there and back) and leads via a flight of stairs with a height difference of about 25 m to the turbine and compressor room.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Special children's and family tours, where children meet the stamp boy Johann; for school classes and children's groups there is the Mining and Stamping Diploma, with practical work in the mine (90 minutes); for preschool children there is a treasure hunt in the mine.

Getting there & parking

The postal address Im Sonnenglanz 18 is also the meeting point for tours.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi to bridge the waiting time until the next tour.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The room "Steigerbucht" can be booked; information from the visitor service.

Plan your visit