Schaubergwerk Silberberg

Useful Information

Location:	Schmelzboden 3, 7278 Davos Monstein. (46.713220, 9.758640)
Open:	Mid-JUN to mid-OCT Wed 12:50. [2022]
Fee:	Half Day: Adults CHF 10, Children (6-16) CHF 5, Guide CHF 130. Full Day: Adults CHF 10, Children (6-16) CHF 5, Guide CHF 200. Gästeprogramm: Adults CHF 5. [2022]
Classification:	Lead Mine Tin Mine
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	Half Day: D=4.5 h, MinAge=6, Max=15. Full Day: D=7.5 h, MinAge=6, Max=15. Gästeprogramm: D=4.5 h, MinAge=6, Max=15.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Bergbauverein Silberberg Davos (BSD), Postfach, 7270 Davos Platz 1. Reservation: Anita Krähenbühl, Sekretariat BSD, Grüenistrasse 19, 7270 Davos Platz, Tel: +41-79-715-07-29. 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

1477	first written mention of mining.
30 Years War	mining ended due to war.
early 19th century	positive report by Hans Conrad Escher von der Linth, mining restarted.
1848	mine closed due to the revolution in France.

Geology

The ore minerals galena, chemically lead sulphide, and zinc blende, chemically zinc sulphide, were extracted in the mine. The rocks are Triassic dolomite, the ore is contained in the form of veins no more than a few centimetres thick. How much actually was mined is unclear, but estimates are 1000 tonnes of lead and several 1000 tonnes of zinc in total. That's actually not much, this amount is today mined every one or two hours.

Description

The Schaubergwerk Silberberg (Show Mine Silver Mountain) is despite the name a lead and tin mine. The ores contained a tiny amount of silver, but it was not economically relevant. The mining started in the 15th century, operated by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Herzog Sigmund started the mining. It ended with the 30 Years War, until at the beginning of the 19th century a famous geologist named Hans Conrad Escher von der Linth visited the site and wrote a positive report. Mining was restarted and the mine was operated for a few years by various owners. The last owner was a French company and the name of the small tunnel Mine Louis Philipp is from this time. An this is also the reason why the French Revolution in 1848 was responsible for the closure of the mine. It was never reopened.

The ore veins are almost vertical, the mining was done by building a tunnel at the bottom and then cutting the ore from the ceiling of the tunnel, following the ore vein upwards. This was done by hand in the first mining period, in the second period they started to use explosives. The milling and sorting of the ore was first done in front of the mine. The location of the mining museum is called Schmelzboden (melting place), because the ore was melted here in furnaces using the local wood. Later on the area was deforested, and the ore was transported to Klosters and Bellaluna near Filisur.

This historic lead and tin mine is located high up the valley. There is no road to the mine, so any visit includes a two-hour walk to the mine, 270 m ascent, the visit and the walk back. The mine is managed by a mining club who offers half day and full day visits to the mine. They are made only after appointment.

There is a weekly tour for individuals, which requires a Davos Klosters Premium Card, which is issued for all visitors staying overnight at Davos or Klosters. This is a special offer for overnight guests organized by the tourist office. If you are interested you must reserve at the Gästeprogramme page on the website of the two towns until 16 the day before. The visit starts at the mining museum Bergbaumuseum Schmelzboden. You must prepare for an alpine mountain tour, with raincoat, warm jacket, appropriate walking shoes, something to eat and drink, sun protection and so forth. A backpack is a good idea, you must cary all your equipment yourself. There is no possibility to buy anything on the tour. Physical fitness is a must.

The same tours are also available for other guests, but only for small groups with reservation. For these tours there is an entrance fee and a fee for the guide. They are possible daily between mid-June and mid-October, tours are made at any weather except heavy rains. There is also a full day tour which includes additional mining related remains in the area. All tours end with a visit of the mining museum.