Grandfontaine Musée Minéralogique et Minier

Mines de Grandfontaine

Useful Information

Location:	Rue des Minières, 67130 Grandfontaine. (48.49332026425569, 7.149981160534763)
Open:	closed. Museum: open on Heritage Days. [2023]
Fee:	closed. [2023]
Classification:	Iron Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	A=454 m asl.
Guided tours:	Min=20, Max=60.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	J.-L. Hohl (1994): Minéraux et Mines du Massif Vosgien Editions du Rhin (Mulhouse), ISBN 10: 2863390961, ISBN 13: 9782863390962. A. Wittern, J.-R. Journée (1997): Mineralien finden in den Vogesen von Loga, Köln.
Address:	Mairie de Grandfontaine, 12 rue Principale, 67130 Grandfontaine, Tel: +33-388-97-20-09. Tourist information center, 114, Grand-rue, F-67130 Schirmeck, Tel: +33-388-47-18-51. 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

1981	developed as a show mine by the district council.
2006	mine closed for safety reasons after a landslide.

Geology

The ores are haematite and pyrite.

Description

The Grandfontaine Musée Minéralogique et Minier (Grandfontaine Mineralogical and Mining Museum) is located on the main road through the village Grandfontaine, which is named Rue des Minières (Road of Mines). For almost 700 years, this was the richest iron deposit in the Vosges mountains. The village was built along the road up the valley, one hous on the left, one on the right. As a result, it is more than 2 km long. Follow the main road and after 1.5 km you will see the small museum on the right side.

The Grandfontaine Mine was located at the foot of the sacred Donon mountain in the Bruche Valley. The tunnel was made accessible by the municipality in 1981 and opened as a show mine. The mine gives an impression of the mining technology of the first half of the 19th century. The mine tunnel is 800 m long and leads to quite spacious cavities enormous quantities of ore were mined, mostly haematite and pyrite. Copper sulphate (blue) and iron hydroxide concretions in the form of rusty-brown stalactites can be seen on the walls. There are six levels below, but they were flooded when the mining ended and the pumps were turned off. The visitors are equipped with oilskin and helmet.

The mine museum is open on Heritage Days, but the show mine was closed due to a landslide. Since it was closed in 2006, almost 20 years ago, we don't think it will ever reopen. We listed it because the show mine is still listed on many websites, and because the museum is on occasion open and worth a visit if you are in the area.