KohleWelt – Museum Steinkohlenbergbau Sachsen

Over het museum

In the Lugau-Oelsnitz district, hard coal mining began in 1844, when a seam worth mining was first opened up in Neuoelsnitz. One of the most important shafts was the Kaiserin Augusta shaft, opened in 1869, which was expanded between 1923 and 1940 into one of the most modern hoisting facilities in Germany and was renamed Karl Liebknecht shaft after 1945. Coal production ended here in 1971, after about 142 million tons of hard coal had been mined across the entire district.

A mining museum was set up from 1976 in the most striking surface buildings of the shaft complex and opened on Miners' Day in July 1986. In the following decades it was expanded several times. The roughly 50-meter-high winding tower and the large steam winding engine remain defining features to this day.

From 2019 the building was comprehensively renovated and stayed closed for several years. In January 2025 it reopened under the name KohleWelt with a newly conceived, interactive permanent exhibition on about 800 years of hard coal in Saxony. This includes a rebuilt demonstration mine, large exhibits in the outdoor area and a collection of Ore Mountains landscape art. The operator is the kul(T)our-Betrieb of the Erzgebirgskreis.

Hoogtepunten

• Interactive permanent exhibition on the history of Saxon hard coal mining
• Demonstration mine with rebuilt galleries and mine railway
• Historic winding tower of the Kaiserin Augusta shaft with a view
• Demonstration of the steam winding engine
• Adventure playground "Zwergenschacht"

Vaste collectie

• Dauerausstellung zum sächsischen Steinkohlenbergbau – Interactive tour through about 800 years of hard coal in Saxony, organized into themed "coal islands" with key objects.
• Anschauungsbergwerk – Rebuilt mine galleries show, on guided tours, the working conditions and the mining and hoisting technology underground.

Opgericht

1986

Beheerder

kul(T)our-Betrieb des Erzgebirgskreises

Directie

Jan Färber

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: Every 1st Wednesday of the month free time slots between 10:30 and 13:00 (bookable online only, limited quota)

Animals are not allowed in the building (except assistance dogs); leashes are required outdoors.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal
• Audiodescriptie

The permanent exhibition and demonstration mine are accessible without barriers (one incline and one decline in the mine). Outdoor area with varying paving. Stations with texts in Plain Language and Braille, audio texts as well as screens with sign language and Easy Language; tactile guidance system under construction. Tactile tours on request. Wheelchairs and rollators on request; accessible restrooms on several floors. The winding tower is only partly accessible (elevator, then stairs).

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Speeltuin / speelhoek
• Kinderfeestjes

Digital museum scavenger hunt with the "glowing piece of coal", adventure playground "Zwergenschacht" outdoors and children's birthday parties as a treasure hunt or mine lamp tour in the demonstration mine. Children up to 5 years free.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Via the A72 exit Stollberg-West or via the A4 exit Hohenstein-Ernstthal, then follow the signs for "Bergbaumuseum".

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

Ice cream café "Janny´s Eis" at the KohleWelt with coffee and snacks (own opening hours). Museum shop in the entrance area.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 110 personen.

Listed historic miners' dining hall (162 m², ground level) for up to 110 people in rows, 70 in conference or 80 in banquet seating; equipment and kitchenette available, catering can be arranged. Not always available.

Je bezoek plannen