UNESCO World Heritage Montanregion Erzgebirge: Experience Mining
Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Montanregion Erzgebirge: mines, Schloss Schwarzenberg and 800 years of mining history – your perfect base awaits you.
Deep beneath the earth, in dark adits and vast chambers, the heart of the Erzgebirge has been beating for centuries. Those who choose the Sonnenhotel Hoher Hahn in Schwarzenberg as their base immerse themselves in a landscape whose history has been shaped in essence by mining. Since 2019, this region has carried a title that distinguishes it the world over – and it is precisely this that makes a journey here something truly special. Join us on a voyage of discovery through a region where past and present are interwoven in the most fascinating way.
A World Heritage with History: The Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří
On 6 July 2019, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee designated the Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří as a World Heritage Site – an honour that reflects the extraordinary significance of this mining landscape. The cross-border World Heritage Site encompasses a total of 22 components: 17 sub-areas in Saxony and 5 sub-areas in neighbouring Czechia. It thus stands as a living testimony to a cultural landscape that stretches across national borders.
The figures behind it are impressive: mining in the Erzgebirge spans nearly 800 years. Since the first discovery of silver ore in 1168 in Christiansdorf – present-day Freiberg – mining was carried out here without interruption until 1990. During its heyday between 1460 and 1560, the Erzgebirge even became Europe's largest source of silver ore. Yet it was by no means only silver: among other things, tin, zinc, cobalt, nickel, copper and lead, as well as coal and uranium, were extracted here. These rich mineral deposits shaped towns, people and a culture all of its own, whose traces you can still discover everywhere in the region today.
Schwarzenberg – Tin, Iron and a Castle with a Mining Past
Our hotel lies in the western Erzgebirge, and it is precisely here that mining wears a face all its own. Schwarzenberg stands above all for tin and iron mining and represents the westernmost mining district within the Saxon part of the Montanregion. Anyone who strolls through the town senses this history at every turn.
A particular landmark is Schloss Schwarzenberg, first mentioned in documents as far back as 1212. Between 1555 and 1558 it was remodelled into a hunting lodge – and at the same time housed the seigneurial and territorial mining administration for tin and iron ore mining. So this was not only a place for hunting, but also where the economic backbone of the region was administered. A walk up to the castle is worthwhile for the view over the rolling hills of the Erzgebirge alone.
Underground: Show Mines You Can Touch
The most striking experience is, without doubt, the descent beneath the earth. The region is home to numerous show mines where silver and tin mining can be experienced up close – an adventure for young and old alike.
Just a stone's throw from Schwarzenberg, in the Luchsbachtal valley in the Pöhla district, lie the Zinnkammern Pöhla. Here visitors travel around 3,000 metres by mine train to the "Hämmerlein" deposit. The tin chambers themselves measure roughly 45 metres in length, around 12 metres in height and 10 metres in width and are considered the largest tin chambers in Europe – a truly monumental sight deep within the mountain.
A little further on, in Annaberg-Buchholz in the Frohnau district, the Markus-Röhling-Stolln awaits you, accessible as a show mine since 1992. A mine train runs along a 600-metre stretch to various exhibition objects. The highlight is a reconstructed water wheel nine metres in diameter, which historically served to pump out groundwater. Between 1733 and 1857, significant quantities of silver and cobalt were extracted here.
Also in Annaberg-Buchholz, the Frohnauer Hammer invites you on a journey through time. The hammer mill museum grew out of a medieval grain mill, was converted into a hammer mill in 1621 and is considered the oldest forge museum in Germany – this site, too, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The ensemble comprises a historic hammer mill with forge installations, a water wheel that can be seen in action, a folk art gallery and the manor house with the chamber of the hammer master. The site can only be visited on a guided tour.
For those who wish to discover even more: further rewarding destinations such as the Zinngrube Ehrenfriedersdorf or the "Reiche Zeche" and "Alte Elisabeth" mines in Freiberg await exploration in the surrounding area. You will find a detailed overview of worthwhile excursions in our Erzgebirge Guide.
Practical Tips for Your Visit Underground
A visit to a mine is an experience with a character all its own. Underground it can be considerably cooler than at the surface, so warm clothing and sturdy footwear are advisable even in summer. Many tours take place at fixed times and are sometimes only possible as a guided tour. We recommend checking the current opening hours, tour times and admission prices directly on the official websites of the respective mines and, if necessary, reserving a place in advance – that way, nothing stands in the way of a seamless day out.
Your Base in the Heart of the World Heritage
After a day full of mining history, there is hardly anything finer than arriving in a relaxed atmosphere. The Sonnenhotel Hoher Hahn lies in a quiet hillside setting at around 670 metres above sea level, south of Schwarzenberg in the Bermsgrün district. Hiking and cycling trails begin right at the door, and for e-bike tours to the mines a lockable garage with a charging station is at your disposal.
Those who wish to unwind after their excursion will find an indoor pool, a Finnish sauna and a tranquil wellness area with us. In the restaurant, half board and culinary themed evenings await you, and we are happy to serve breakfast in the light-flooded conservatory. Families are well looked after, too – with an indoor children's playroom, an outdoor playground and a kids' club. From here you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Montanregion Erzgebirge in complete comfort and return in the evening to a welcoming home away from home. We look forward to welcoming you to our hotel.