Besucherbergwerk „Marie Louise Stolln"

About the museum

Iron ore was already being mined in the middle Gottleuba valley in the Middle Ages; the “Pirnisch Eisen” from the district around Berggießhübel was considered particularly good in the 16th century. The adit through which visitors are guided today was begun in 1726 as the Friedrich Erbstolln. It received its present name around 1870, when the manufacturer Hermann Gruson took over the mine, had the adit extended and named the portal after his eldest daughter, Marie Louise.

Under Gruson the district experienced its most profitable period: by 1892 around 169,000 tonnes of iron ore had been extracted, and at times almost half of the iron ore mined in Saxony came from Berggießhübel. Once the deposits were exhausted, mining largely came to an end; a final exploratory attempt in the years 1938 to 1942 was unsuccessful.

From the 1970s the Bergsicherung Dresden secured the old workings because mining damage was occurring in the village, and in doing so it also re-opened the partly collapsed adit. Between 2003 and 2006 the adit and the Scheidehaus (ore-sorting house) were renovated, and at Whitsun 2006 they opened as a show mine with a tourist information office.

The tour leads about 400 metres into the mountain to a large cavern with an underground lake in the Mutter-Gottes-Lager. Above ground, a mining history exhibition with minerals and finds in the Scheidehaus and Wismut mining technology from Königstein in the outdoor area complete the visit.

Highlights

• Underground lake in the cavern of the Mutter-Gottes-Lager
• Around 850 metres of tour route through an iron ore adit dating from 1726
• Children’s tour with gemstone panning and a torchlight section
• Mining history exhibition with minerals in the Scheidehaus
• Wismut mining technology and mine railway in the outdoor area
• Mettenschichten (traditional miners’ Christmas services) and mulled wine tours in Advent

Permanent exhibitions

• Bergbaugeschichtliche Ausstellung im Scheidehaus – The upper floor of the Scheidehaus is devoted to regional mining: iron products, minerals and rocks from the surrounding area, mining-history finds and a section on Wismut mining in Königstein; films about the adit are shown on request.
• Bergbautechnik im Außengelände – Mine railway and machinery that were still in use at Wismut GmbH in Königstein until a few years ago.

Founded

2006

Operated by

Kurgesellschaft Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel mbH

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the underground tour, the exhibition in the Scheidehaus, the outdoor area and permission to take photos and film. The exhibition in the Scheidehaus and the film screenings alone are free of charge. Tickets bought online cannot be cancelled.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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

Not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers or two walking aids because of the narrow adit profile. Guests with walking difficulties can only take part with their own companion, who will look after them in an emergency; the escape route leads up a ladder about 45 m high. Guests with intellectual disabilities, please register in advance. Dogs are not allowed in the mine.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children may only enter the mine from the age of 5, and small children are not allowed in a baby carrier or child carrier either. The children’s tour with a miners’ quiz, gemstone panning at the underground lake and a torchlight section is tailored to children (one adult per child). Above ground there is a baby changing table, a pushchair storage room, a drawing corner, a water track and bobby cars; a playground is a few hundred metres away.

Getting there & parking

About 30 minutes from Dresden via the A17. For navigation systems other than Google Maps, enter “Sebastian-Kneipp-Platz 2, 01816 Berggießhübel” and then follow the “Besucherbergwerk” signs into Talstraße.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Tourist information with shop in the former Scheidehaus (hiking maps, minerals, souvenirs, drinks, ice cream in summer); seating areas in the outdoor area; free Wi-Fi above ground. Places to eat nearby, including the Rätze butcher’s snack bar (approx. 100 m) and the Hotel “Sächsisches Haus” with restaurant (approx. 150 m).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 30 guests.

Conference room in the former Scheidehaus for workshops, conferences, seminars and private celebrations of up to 30 people, with kitchen; €120 per day, weekend flat rate €200, plus heating costs in the winter half-year.

Plan your visit