Besucherbergwerk Markus Semmler

Useful Information

Location:	Bad Schlema. A72 exit Hartenstein/Lichtenstein, S255 towards Aue, in Hartenstein turn right to Bad Schlema.
Open:	All year Sat, Sun, Hol 10-13. [2012]
Fee:	Adults EUR 13, Children (10-16) EUR 5, Children (0-9) not allowed. Groups (21+): Adults EUR 10. [2012]
Classification:	Uranium Mine SDAG Wismut
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Besucherbergwerk Markus-Semmler, Schacht 15 IIb Schlema, Richard-Friedrich-Str. 2, 08301 Schlema, Tel: +49-3772-36-297-81, Fax: +49-3772-36-297-83. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1911	strongest radon springs in the world discovered in Markus-Semmler-Stolln.
1991	Besucherbergwerk Schacht 371 Hartenstein (Hartenstein Shaft 371 show mine) opened.
1996	show mine closed.
1999	Besucherbergwerk Schacht 15^IIb opened.
2005	show mine closed.
2006	Besucherbergwerk Markus Semmler (Markus Semmler show mine) in shaft 15 IIb opened.

Geology

Description

The Besucherbergwerk Markus Semmler (Markus Semmler show mine) is located in Bad Schlema, a town with a long mining tradition. The period of active mining in the GDR was characterized by uranium mining by SDAG Wismut. This company also operated the show mine Schacht 371 Hartenstein. Between 1991 and 1996, it had more than 50,000 visitors. With a depth of 540 m, Shaft 371 was the deepest show mine in Europe. Nevertheless, the mine was closed again and now only houses a museum about SDAG Wismut and a collection of minerals.

The Bezirksverein Westerzgebirge im Ring Deutscher Bergingenieure e.V. (Westerzgebirge district association of the Ring Deutscher Bergingenieure e.V.) then opened the Besucherbergwerk Schacht 15^IIb. This is located at the other end of Schlema, but belongs to the same mining district.