Bergwerk Riedhof
Regional mining museum and visitor tunnel of a former coal mine in the Aeugstertal, open only on a few Saturdays a year.
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About the museum
Coal was mined in the Aeugstertal in three periods. In 1786 a farmer discovered the coal deposit during road works; the Canton of Zurich took over the mining but ended it in 1814 for lack of transport links, after only about 1,000 tonnes had been extracted. In the First World War, 16 people founded a coal consortium, which extracted about 1,200 tonnes from 1917 to 1921 and gave up with a growing deficit.
The most significant phase followed from 1942 to 1947: the companies Sulzer and Georg Fischer received a concession, and with specialists from the Gonzen mine a tunnel system about 7 kilometres long was built; at times over 300 people worked here, and around 30,000 tonnes of coal were extracted. Riedhof was thus the second-largest coal mine in the Canton of Zurich.
On 15 May 2002 the Verein Bergwerk Riedhof was founded in Aeugst am Albis to preserve the memory of this industrial monument; in December 2002 the regional mining museum opened near the Götschihof. It shows tools, documents, photos and models from the mining eras and leads to the Gottert tunnel with an illuminated underground lake, which has been partly accessible to visitors since 2012.
Highlights
- Tour of the Gottert tunnel with an illuminated underground lake
- Museum with original tools, photos, plans and models
- Second-largest coal mine in the Canton of Zurich, once with about 7 km of tunnels
- Tours by experienced association members, helmets provided
- Barbara Day at the museum every year in early December
Permanent exhibitions
- Museum Bergwerk Riedhof – Original tools, photos, plans and models from the mining eras between 1917 and 1947 tell the story of coal mining in the Aeugstertal.
- Gottert-Stollen – In the tunnel, visitors can see a section of the historic mine system and an illuminated underground lake.
- Founded
- 2002
- Operated by
- Verein Bergwerk Riedhof
Admission & discounts
| Group tour, museum only (10–20 people) | CHF 150Duration 1.5 hours. |
|---|---|
| Group tour, museum only (over 20 people, with two accompanying persons) | CHF 200 |
| Group tour, museum and tunnel (10–20 people) | CHF 300Duration 3 hours. |
| Group tour, museum and tunnel (over 20 people, with two accompanying persons) | CHF 400 |
Admission to the museum is free; the website does not state prices for individual visitors to the tunnel.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Aeugstertal-Kloster · 5-min walk
S-Bahn S9 to Affoltern am Albis, then bus 225 or 235 towards Aeugstertal to the stop "Aeugstertal-Kloster".
By car
Parking available
Parking at the Götschihof (parking hall).
Amenities & dining
The museum is located at the Götschihof in the Aeugstertal.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The Gottert tunnel is visited in about 45 to 60 minutes; association members accompany all groups and provide helmets. The tunnel is 11 degrees all year round with high humidity; a warm jacket and sturdy footwear are recommended. Individual tours for groups, clubs and schools on request. |
