St.-Anna-Stollen
Historic iron ore mine on the Kolbenberg near Nothweiler in the Palatinate Forest with a 420 m illuminated circuit – closed until further notice since April 2025.
Over het museum
Near Nothweiler in the Wasgau, the southern part of the Palatinate Forest, brown iron ore fills fissures in the red sandstone that opened up when the Upper Rhine Graben was formed. Mining here is documented since at least 1582, when Duke Johann of Palatinate-Zweibrücken had the mine established; the ore went to the ironworks in nearby Schönau. After destruction in the Thirty Years' War, mining lay dormant for a long time.
After Ludwig von Gienanth acquired the ironworks and mine in 1835, the present-day St.-Anna-Stollen was driven in 1838 – the year is carved on a memorial stone at the tunnel entrance. The manganese-rich ore was prized for the quality of steel it produced, but as the Palatinate iron industry declined, the blast furnaces in Schönau went cold, and the mine was abandoned in 1883.
From 1976 onward, residents of Nothweiler cleared the passages and secured the shafts in more than 1,000 hours of volunteer work; lighting and railings were added based on plans by the Bad Kreuznach mining authority. The show mine officially opened on July 22, 1978. The level circuit leads for 420 meters to large mined-out chambers with colorful ore veins, a double ore chute, a cistern, and the ventilation shaft; an information center displays tools and cast products from the ironworking industry of the Wasgau. In winter, the mine serves as a roost for around 500 bats. Since April 2025 the mine has been closed due to a lack of staff, and the municipality is looking for a leaseholder.
Hoogtepunten
- Level, dry 420 m circuit through the brightly lit mine
- Colorful brown iron ore veins and mined-out chambers of up to 500 m³
- Double ore chute (2 × 40 m) and 80 m ventilation shaft
- Information center "Bergbau und Hüttenwesen im Wasgau" (mining and ironworking in the Wasgau)
- Winter roost for around 500 bats of seven species
- Opgericht
- 1978
- Beheerder
- Ortsgemeinde Nothweiler
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
Visits are currently not possible. Most recent prices (2024): adults €6, retirees and people with severe disabilities €5, children aged 6 and up and students €4, children up to 5 free, family ticket €14; groups of 12 or more €0.50 off per person; discount with the Pfälzerwald-Card; information center free. Prices after a reopening are not known.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
According to the municipality, the underground circuit is level and dry; no further accessibility information is available.
Kinderen & gezin
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Nothweiler · 1,5 km
Nearest train station is Hinterweidenthal, then bus line 252 to Nothweiler or the on-call shared taxi (order 60 minutes in advance).
By car via Bad Bergzabern or Dahn and Erlenbach, then follow the "Erzgrube" signs.
Route plannenService & horeca
The mine has a kiosk, for which a leaseholder is also currently being sought.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.
Je bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 45 min. |
|---|---|
| Goed om te weten | When in operation, visits are by guided tour only (German and English); groups by appointment. The temperature in the tunnel is a constant 8 °C or so. The premium hiking trail "Grenzgängerweg" passes by the mine. |
