Radmer Paradeisstollen

Useful Information

photography — Radmer Paradeisstollen, Steiermark, Austria. Public Domain.

Location:	Hasel 36, 8795 Radmer. In Radmer an der Hasel. A9 (E57) exit Reithtal, B146 east through Admont and the Gesäuse to Hieflau, turn right onto B115. After 2.8 km turn right to Radmer. The mine is at the end of the valley. (47.522735, 14.703001)
Open:	MAY to OCT Tue-Sun 9-18. Appointment much recommended. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 17, Children (6-18) EUR 9. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 15. [2025]
Classification:	Copper Mine Iron Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=60 min, Max=6, MinAge=6.
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Josef Hasitschka (2018): Anschaulicher Bergbau - Der Radmerer Paradeisstollen vor der Fotolinse In: 21. Internationaler Bergbau & Montanhistorik-Workshop Bramberg im Oberpinzgau – Salzburg. Tagungsband (Bramberg 2018), 131–153.
Address:	Schaubergwerk Radmer Paradeisstollen, Hasel 36, 8795 Radmer, Tel: +43-3635-20030. 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

1547	said to be the begin of copper mining.
1559	first written mention of mining, two mines owned by Berthold Holzschuher and Hyronimus Geider.
1590	Radmer becomes the most important copper mine of Europe.
1596	480 tons of raw copper mined in a year.
1610	Bruderlade founded, a sort of pension fund.
1620	Radmer is not the most important copper mine any more, but still important.
1634	the first use of gunpowder in mining is made by Martin Silbereisen.
1711	the miner Adam Stangerer discovers iron ore.
1830	Iron mining discontinued.
1840	Iron mining resumed by the Imperial and Royal Metallurgical Administration in Hieflau.
1855	copper mining ends.
1860	Iron mining discontinued.
1939	Iron ore mining resumed.
1941	Connection to the Princely Hohenberg Forest Railway Radmer.
1979	iron mining ends.
2005	opened as a show mine.

Geology

The copper ores at Radmer formed in the sedimentary greywackes of the Noric nappe. They are enclosed by the Werfen layers, mostly schists and sandstone, and the carbonates (limestones) of the northern limestone alps. The iron ores, mostly siderite, are found in the limestones. The rocks were folded and by two different phases of the orogenic process. One had its direction north to south, the other one east to west.

Description

The Paradeisstollen (Paradise Tunnel) is the oldest part of the copper mine in Radmer. It is not the oldest trace of mining, as the area was mined 3,000 years ago during the Bronze Age. A Bronze Age axe was found close to the show mine in the 19th century, which is interpreted as a remains of this early mining. It is a Lappenbeil (lit: rag axe) which is approximately 3,000 years old. There were also traces of slag, which are from the same era. Most likely the ore was mined in small open cast mines at this time.

The Medival mining started around 1550, first written accounts are from 1559. The date 1547 as the start of mining seems to be realistic but unconfirmed. But soon, after only 40 years it became the most important copper mine of Europe. The peak was around 1600, which is attributed to Johann Linsmayr, who was called Edler von Greifenberg. He built Castle Greifenberg as a administrative building. At that time, around 600 miners were employed in 60 mines and the town of Radmer had around 2,000 inhabitants; today it has 500. Around 1620 the importance of the copper mining slowly vanished.

The times changed, when in 1711 the miner Adam Stangerer discovered iron ore. Over decades the importance of copper sunk and the iron mining replaced it. However, iron mining was also suspended several times for decades for economic reasons. The heyday of iron mining began with its reopening in 1939, which was of course attributable to the Nazis, who wanted to extract raw materials for the war effort. Accordingly, the mining company at that time was called Reichswerke "Hermann Göring" (RHG) and made extensive use of forced labour. After the war, the demand for raw materials was naturally also high, and so the mine was continued by the Österreichische Alpine Montangesellschaft (ÖAMG) and its successor company VOEST Alpine AG until 1979.

The show mine is rather young, and was created by a local club who invested a lot of work to clear the partly collapsed tunnels. They show the old tunnel, which was dug by hand, more modern tunnels made with gunpowder and later dynamite. The mine is entered on the smallest mine train of Austria. It allows only six persons, which restricts the size of the tour groups. The train was built by the locals when they developed the mine. So it is not historic, and they are very prod that it is absolutely unique. Probably the highlight of the whole tour is a chamber called Eisenblütenkammer which contains a mineral named Eisenblüte (iron flower).