Pferdegöpel Johanngeorgenstadt

About the museum

In the mining town of Johanngeorgenstadt, founded in 1654, three horse-driven hoisting machines were built from the early 18th century. After the first whim of the Hohneujahr and Unverhofft Glück mines burned down in 1788, the Neu Leipziger Glück Fundgrube had a new horse whim built nearby in 1797/98 to plans by Carl Gottfried Baldauf. From December 1798 two horses hoisted from a shaft about 140 meters deep here; operation did not end until 1917.

During the Wismut uranium mining, the whim was demolished in the 1950s, as was the Huthaus (mine office building) of the Eleonora Stollen. After German reunification, the long-cherished wish for a reconstruction was taken up: the whim was reconstructed as faithfully to the original as possible and technically operational, and was inaugurated on October 30, 1993.

Since then the Förderverein Pferdegöpel Johanngeorgenstadt (friends' association), founded in 1992, has operated the site as a museum. At its suggestion, a new Huthaus was also built after the historic model, on whose upper floor an exhibition on the region's mining and a film about the reconstruction are shown. A replica shaft house, large Schwibbogen (candle arches), and more recent mining machinery were added on the grounds.

Highlights

• Operational reconstructed horse whim with rope drum and whim shaft
• Huthaus exhibition with a film about the reconstruction
• Demonstrations with horses can be booked for groups
• Mine locomotives, drilling carriage, and shaft house on the outdoor grounds
• Stop on the Johanngeorgenstadt Mining Educational Trail

Permanent exhibitions

• Ausstellung im Huthaus – Mining exhibits from the region, models of the whim and the town, and a film about the reconstruction of the horse whim.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Förderverein Pferdegöpel Johanngeorgenstadt e.V.

Admission & discounts

With the guest card of the Erzgebirge tourism association: adults €5.50, children €4.50.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The whim is on the 5.2 km Mining Educational Trail between Johanngeorgenstadt train station and Platz des Bergmanns.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

At the ticket counter in the Huthaus you can buy postcards, brochures, books, calendars, and minerals. Across the way is the restaurant "Am Pferdegöpel."

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil weddings (via the Breitenbrunn registry office) or non-denominational ceremonies in the whim from May to September, flat fee €150.

Plan your visit