Grube Gustav
Show mine in the Höllental near Meißner-Abterode: one-hour guided tours through the adit where copper shale and barite were mined.
About the museum
In the Höllental north of Abterode, miners came across copper shale at the end of the 15th century. Around 1500, Landgrave Wilhelm II recruited them with special privileges such as exemption from taxes and compulsory labor; a street name in Abterode still recalls this “Bergfreiheit” (miners’ freedom). The seam, only a few decimeters thick, was worked laboriously by hand with hammer and chisel until the reserves were exhausted around 1850.
From 1897, a barite vein was mined, first in an open pit and from 1928 underground. In November 1957, a collapse of the vein cut two miners off from the outside world; after 121 hours they were freed with a narrow rescue sled through a specially drilled hole – one of the first rescues of its kind in German mining. The mine was closed at the turn of the year 1967/68.
On the initiative of local mining enthusiasts, who formed a friends' association in 1986, the upper adit level was developed as a show mine and opened on August 22, 1986. The municipality of Meißner owns and operates it. In 2020 the adit received new LED lighting with light and sound installations. Minerals, mining equipment, and a rescue sled are also on display; in 2026 the mine celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Highlights
- Guided tour of about one hour through the developed upper adit level
- Historic workings in the copper shale seam, only about 37 cm thick
- Rescue sled as a reminder of the 1957 mining accident
- Light and sound installations in the adit
- Gold-panning station for children at the ticket booth
Permanent exhibitions
- Besucherstollen im Kupferschiefer und Schwerspat – Guided tour through the upper adit level with old copper shale workings, the barite vein, and light installations on geology and miners’ work.
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- Gemeinde Meißner
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €7Children aged 3 to 14 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8.50 per personChildren (ages 3–14) in groups €6.50. |
| Families | €30 |
Accessibility
- 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
According to the operator, the visit is also possible for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €30 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Gold-panning station for children next to the ticket booth; every year an Easter egg hunt with a special tour at Easter and “Halloween unter Tage” (Halloween underground) on the last weekend of October. Mine tours can also be booked for children’s birthday parties.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Frau Holle · 5-min walk
Bus 290 to Meißner-Abterode “Sparkasse” (from June 1, 2026, replacement stop “Hinter der Freiheit”), then on foot along the Premiumweg P23 through the Kupferbachtal; alternatively the “Frau Holle” stop in the Höllental.
By car
Parking available
Wanderparkplatz Grube Gustav hikers’ parking lot (GPS: Höllental 2, 37290 Meißner).
Because the through road in Abterode is closed (June 1, 2026 to June 1, 2027), use the Berkatal-Frankershausen exit when coming from the B27. From the Jugenddorf Hoher Meißner, a footpath of about 6 km (marked 3j) leads to the mine; the Premiumweg P23 and the Anger-Radrundtour cycling loop pass right by.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Mine kiosk with information material, minerals, souvenirs, and books on mining; the restroom is also there. Rustic huts in the outdoor area invite you to linger.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits by guided tour only; registration by phone or email requested (answering machine, callback). Please arrive 15 minutes before the start; minimum of 3 participants. Group tours for 10 or more people also outside regular times during the season, registration by 16:00 the day before. The mine is about 10 °C year-round – bring warm clothing. Dogs are not allowed in the mine. |
