Kupfererzbergwerk Düppenweiler
Show mine with an underground tour and the light-and-sound show "Mystallica," plus a replica copper smelter on the Litermont in Düppenweiler.
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About the museum
Copper mining in Düppenweiler began, according to a charter of 1776, with the discovery of copper ore by a local resident who found it with a plow on the Weltersberg in 1723. From around 1725 the Walloon Remacle de Hauzeur ran the mine; under his direction most of the installation known today from old plans was built. Because the ore veins pinched out and disputes arose over mining rights, operations paused around 1735.
In the following decades several operators tried their luck, but none came close to the initial success. The last attempts by the Dillinger Hütte in 1824 to 1828 and in 1915/16 also brought little, so mining was finally abandoned. The mine fell into oblivion and remained buried.
In 1986 the idea arose of reopening tunnels and shafts to create a show mine; a friends' association was founded in 1992. Today about 600 meters of tunnels and four shafts run through the complex. Above ground stand a copper smelter built to historical specifications, with a stamp mill and smelting works, the Barbara Chapel and a mining pyramid more than twelve meters high. The underground tour is accompanied by the light and sound installation "Mystallica."
Highlights
- Underground tour with the light and sound installation "Mystallica"
- Copper smelter with stamp mill and smelting works
- Media terminal in the stamp mill with three films
- Barbara Chapel and mining pyramid more than twelve meters high
- Hut house with food service and a small museum
Permanent exhibitions
- Untertageführung „Mystallica“ – A light and sound installation accompanies the route through tunnels, shafts and the underground lake of the show mine.
- Kupferhütte und Übertagegelände – Stamp mill, smelting works, machinery and the Barbara Chapel show how the ore was processed.
- Operated by
- Gemeinde Beckingen / Verein Historisches Kupferbergwerk Düppenweiler e.V.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 5 · Children aged 6 to 14 |
| Groups | –Special tours for groups by arrangement |
Adults and young people aged 14 and over pay €10; the price covers the underground tour with "Mystallica" and the above-ground tour. Card payment is not possible.
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 show mine is only partly barrier-free. Underground tours are not possible for wheelchair users or visitors with rollators.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Düppenweiler motorhome pitch, Hinter der Brunnenstraße 11, €10 per day.
From Saarbrücken via the A 620, exit Dillingen Mitte, then the B 51 to Beckingen and on to Düppenweiler. GPS: 49.41170 / 6.78394.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
The Huthaus at the mine offers food service and a small museum: Thursday to Saturday from 11:00, Sundays and public holidays from 11:00; closed Monday to Wednesday (tel. 06832 808370). After the tour, a miners' snack (Bergmannsvesper) is served there.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours cover the underground and above-ground facilities. A media terminal in the stamp mill with three films is accessible above ground even without a tour. Special tours are possible by arrangement. |
