Show mine in the Ore Mountains: mine tours 100 m underground with a wheel pump and mine railway, plus a Mineralogical Museum – part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From September 5, 2026
Multimedia exhibition on the results of the ArchaeoTin research project: from Bronze Age tin mining through water management and pumping machinery to today's demand for tin; end date not given.
On the Sauberg near Ehrenfriedersdorf, tin was being washed from the stream valleys as early as the 10th/11th century; underground mining is documented before 1300. In the 16th century the Tiefer Sauberger Stolln, a drainage adit more than two kilometers long, was built, and around 1540 the famous Ehrenfriedersdorf wheel pump, an early water-lifting machine. After centuries of ups and downs, Sachsenerz Bergwerks AG took over the mine in 1936 and built a modern processing plant; from 1948, SDAG Wismut mined here.
On October 3, 1990, tin mining ended with the "last tub," because it was no longer profitable after world market prices had fallen. The mine officially opened as a show mine as early as 1995; since 1998 the "Saubergexpress" mine railway has run underground. In 1999 the Zinngrube became a member of the newly founded Zweckverband Sächsisches Industriemuseum (Saxon Industrial Museum association), which operates it today.
During repair work in 2000, miners discovered the wheel chamber of the historic pump; in 2007 a working waterwheel was reconstructed there. Since 2019 the Zinngrube has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region. Above ground, the Mineralogical Museum shows ores and minerals of the district and the path of tin, the mine smithy displays a miners' parade made up of more than a thousand wooden figures, and the winding engine is one of the oldest in Germany still licensed to carry passengers.
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Children aged 6 and over, school students, apprentices, university students, holders of a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis), the Sächsische Ehrenamtskarte (Saxon volunteer card), a Sozialpass (social welfare pass) or a family card |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 5 · Children under 6 free; adventure tour recommended from age 10, tourist tour from age 6. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3companion free · Reduced price with a severe disability ID; companions free. |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Group rates for tours for 15 or more people: adventure tour €20 (reduced €14, school group €10), tourist tour €14 (reduced €9, school group €8); smaller groups flat rate of €320 or €220. |
| Families | –Family tickets for tours only: adventure tour €50 (2 adults + up to 2 children) or €60 (more children), tourist tour €40–50. |
| Underground adventure tour (2.5 hrs, incl. museum) | €22Reduced €16; age 10 and up. |
| Underground tourist tour (1.5 hrs, incl. museum) | €16Reduced €11; age 6 and up. |
| Above-ground guided tour (1.5 hrs, incl. museum) | €9Reduced €5. |
| Special exhibition | €7Reduced €5. |
| Mettenschicht (Nov.–Jan., 15 or more people) | €20Reduced €14 per person. |
| Children's birthday party (max. 15 people) | €100Flat rate. |
| Zweckverband pass (1 year, all sites of the Sächsisches Industriemuseum) | €25Reduced €15. |
Prices valid from July 1, 2026. Free: children under 6, companions, press, museum members.
Due to local conditions, the museum is not fully accessible. For safety reasons, mine tours are not possible with a wheelchair, rollator or walking aids; visitors must be sure-footed and able to climb a 30-meter escape route via ladders in case the winding engine fails. An alternative above-ground program is possible by arrangement; digitally, there is a 360-degree tour and a virtual machine tour ("Museum to go").
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 6+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
Certified as a family-friendly business. Underground Touristikführung from age 6 (one adult companion per child), Erlebnisführung from age 10; the mine stays at about 8 °C year-round. Holiday programs and children's birthday parties with gemstone hunting underground. Children under 10 in the exhibition only when accompanied by adults.
No direct public transport connection; about an 18-minute walk from the market square in Ehrenfriedersdorf.
Free parking
Ample free parking in front of the museum; turning space for coaches.
By car via the B 95 (Chemnitz–Annaberg-Buchholz, access to the Sauberg at the edge of town) or the S 222 from the direction of Wolkenstein.
Get directionsDrinks in the museum shop; miners' meals (e.g., lentil stew, kettle goulash) for groups by advance order. Restaurant "Sauberg Klause" right next door.
No conventional room rental: company outings, family and Christmas parties, and children's birthday parties are organized as tour and event packages in the mine on request; Mettenschicht celebrations from November to January.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, CS, NL) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private, non-commercial photography free of charge; commercial photo and video shoots subject to a fee. |
| Good to know | Mine descent with a cable hoist to a depth of up to 100 m. On the Erlebnisführung (adventure tour, approx. 1.5 km walk), coveralls, rubber boots, a helmet, and a lamp are provided; on the Touristikführung (tourist tour), a helmet and cape – bring sturdy shoes and warm clothing. Audioguide for the museum. Touristikführung approx. 1.5 hours, Erlebnisführung approx. 2.5 hours. |
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