Besucherbergwerk Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln

Silberbergwerk Schönborn

Useful Information

Location:	Schönborn-Dreiwerden
Open:	All year Sat 10, 13. Easter, Pentecost 10, 13, 15. [2011]
Fee:	Adults EUR 6.50, Children (6-14) EUR 4.50, Children (0-5) free. Groups (20+): Adults EUR 6, Children (6-14) EUR 4. Exkursionsbefahrung: Per Person EUR 29, minimum age 12, minimum 5 participants. [2011]
Classification:	Silver Mine
Light:	electric
Dimension:	T=8-11°C
Guided tours:	Exkursionsbefahrung: D=5-7h
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln e.V., Feldstraße 15, OT Schönborn-Dreiwerden, 09661 Rossau, Tel: +49-3727-91845. 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

1831	mine opened.
1843	first underground turbine in the Freiberg mining area installed.
1885	mine closed.
1978	group of mine enthusiasts receives permission to explore the mine.
1990	non profit club "Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln" e.V. founded, successor of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft "Historischer Erzbergbau".
1992	show mine opened.
1993	150. anniversary of the turbine.
13-APR-1996	reconstructed wooden transmission opened to the public by prime minister Kurt Biedenkopf.

Geology

Description

The Besucherbergwerk Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln was created to raise funds for the preservation of this mine. It was developed by the non profit organisation Verein "Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln" e.V., whose members explore and protect the mine since the early 1970s. Visitors are added to the mine guest book, then equipped with helmet, coat, and miners lamp. The the tour starts with a brief introduction into the history of the mining. The building called Rollschachtkaue is the place where once the ore was located. Here the ore processing technology used 150 years ago is explained. Then the mine is entered from the level of the Zschopau river by boat. The tunnel is locally called Röschen, a term which means adit. Adits were built to drain the mines using gravity. It is also part of the name of the show mine, Erbstollen is another word for an adit. Another German term for adit is Rösche.

The boat ride ends at the former technical heart of the mine. Here was the first turbine installed underground in the mining area of Freiberg. The turbine was developed by the French engineer Benoit Fourneyron and was put to use in 1843. The mining club operating the show mine is working to restore it at the moment.

At the mining front of the year 1883 the daily work of a miner and its tools and machinery are explained. This starts with hammer and chisel, the traditional mining tools, which are also the international symbols of mining. Their use is demonstrated. The a ladder is climbed to reach the level of the Schützerstolln. Here the water driving the turbine was regulated. The next stop is the Herrmann-Kunstschacht, a 286m deep shaft. Here the remains of the steam driven elevator system from 1870, installed by the company Jacobi from Meissen, can be seen. Part of it is an impressive iron pump.

The Clementine-Kunst- und Treibeschacht is the location of wooden suction pumps, which were powered by the turbine. There is a wooden lever rod system used to transport the mechanical energy to the pumps. Some parts of it have been restored. Then follows the western turbine hall, where 1864 a second turbine was installed. Finally it is going down four ladders to the level of the Eisenbahnstolln, where the mine is left.