Bergwerk Platzertal

Useful Information

Location:	Platzertal, above the Platzeralm. (46.9525116, 10.6603952)
Open:	no restrictions. Museum: JUN to SEP Thu 9-16. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Lead Mine Zinc Mine Copper Mine Silver Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	A=2.815 m ü.A.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Verein Bergwerk Platzertal, Elisabeth Sturm, 6541 Tösens, Tel: +43-664-260-71-80. 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

15th century	beginning of mining.
1539	Gewerkschaft (miners union) founded.
1610	Mine closed due to the advance of the Bergler glacier.
1858	Mine reopened.
1859	Operations ceased due to the death of the main entrepreneur and the outbreak of war.
1881	Innsbruck solicitor Dr Ludwig Duregger acquires mining rights.
1884	start of mining operations.
1896	change of ownership; under the Trentino industrialist F. Oss-Mazzura, mining reaches its heyday.
1910	mining ceased.
1950	tunnels provisionally repaired by the Bleiberger Bergwerksunion (Bleiberger Mining Union).
2007	Verein Bergwerk Platzertal (Platzertal Mine Association) founded.
2020	renovation of the cable car station and mountain huts completed.

Geology

Description

The Bergwerk Platzertal (Platzertal Mine) is located at 2,815 m asl, making it the highest mine in Tyrol. This region, between 2,500 and 3,000 metres above sea level, is home to the most significant ore deposits in the district of Landeck, mainly lead, zinc and copper ores, but also silver. The mine was also known as the Tösens Mine and the Tösens Silver and Lead Mine because it is located in the municipality of Tösens. In fact, silver was the motivation for mining in the 16th century. The mint in Hall had a great need for silver. The silver-rich lead ore was carefully sorted out at the separation sites, while the zinc blende ended up on the spoil heap. This is why the mine is sometimes also referred to as the Platzertal Silver Mine. The remaining ore reserves are estimated at 1.5 million tonnes.

However, the main problem was and still is the approach: the route from Pfundser Tschey to the mine is 9 km long, with an ascent of 900 m, which means a three to four-hour walk. Today, it is possible to drive there, but in the past, one had to hike all the way from Pfunds. In addition to the high transport costs, mining was also subject to high extraction costs and a long winter break during which the area was inaccessible. The mining area is located on the edge of glaciers, and the advance of the Bergler glacier led to its closure in 1610. The fact that a mining operation was overtaken by a glacier actually happened to several mines in Austria at that time, a consequence of the "Little Ice Age". The lack of profitability led to its closure in 1910 and prevented the resumption of mining in 1950, which was also a time of falling raw material prices on the world market.

The mine itself is not accessible, but various buildings on the surface that belong to the mine have been renovated. The buildings are now listed as historical monuments. These include the upper station of the ore cable car and the crew building.

And today, this is what prevents us from calling this mine a show mine: To visit it, you have to plan a whole day, be physically fit and have some experience in mountain hiking. Strictly speaking, this is a truly extraordinary highlight for people who enjoy mountain hiking anyway. In addition, the underground part is missing. Nevertheless, we have decided to list the mine because it is very unusual, has been beautifully renovated and also has a museum set up by the association.