Quarzsandbergwerk im Krähstel

Im Chrästel - Quarzsandbergwerk Buchs

Useful Information

Location:	Krähstelstrasse 29, 8107 Buchs. (47.457800, 8.453200)
Open:	Guided tours by appointment only. [2025]
Fee:	Große Führung: Adults CHF 15, Children (7-15) CHF 5. Kleine Führung: Adults CHF 10, Children (7-15) CHF 5. [2025]
Classification:	Quartz Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=750 m, A=500 m.
Guided tours:	Große Führung: D=75 min, Min=4, Max=10, MinAge=7. Kleine Führung: D=60 min, Max=10.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Roger Widmer (2018): Quarzsandbergwerk Chrästel, AGS-INFO 2018, pp. 22-27. pdf
Address:	Quarzsand-Bergwerk Buchs ZH, Frau Beatrice Kathriner, Krähstelstrasse 29, 8107 Buchs, Tel: +41-43-411-83-62.
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

1894	mine opened.
1920	mine closed.
MAR-2022	restaurant and show mine closed.
2025	restaurant reopened.

Geology

The Chrästel quartz sand mine is located in a molasse hill, which is partially covered by moraines from the glaciers of the last ice ages. The quartz sands were deposited during the Upper Freshwater Molasse (11-17 Ma ago) on an extremely flat, extensive alluvial plain. Wide, meandering rivers with a slight gradient brought quartz-rich sand and gravel from their catchment area in the Tauern mountains and deposited it on this plain. At that time, drainage took place through the area of the Kettenjura, which did not yet exist at that time, into the Rhone Valley and thus into the Mediterranean. Near the Jura, there was also weak diagenesis, i.e. consolidation of the loose sediments. Penetrating surface water containing humic acids dissolved the limestone from the loose rocks, thereby enriching the quartz content.

Description

The mine at the Krähstel or Chrästel was used to mine quartz sand for the nearby glassworks at Bühlach. The glas from this factory was quite popular, had local fame. The mine was operated in the room and pilar method, so it is actually a set of orthogonal passages and the resulting quadratic pillars which support the ceiling. When the miners had a break or during longer waiting times when loading quartz sand, they started to scratch artworks into the soft sandstone walls. The owner, J. Spühler was quite fond of the artworks and supported his workers. Around 1906 the artworks had become quite famous, and he opened a restaurant and offered tour through the mine on Sundays during summer. During World War I there was little tourism, and as a result of the war and when the glassworks at Bühlach went corrupt in 1920 the mine was also closed. In 1923 the house of the family Spühler burned down, and was rebuilt as a residential building with barn and restaurant. However, the rebuilding as well as the cost of replacing the destroyed machinery was so expensive that he had to sell the farm in 1929.

The mine, farm and restaurant was purchased by family Wetzel. Several generations of the family operated the restaurant and farm, but they never reopened the mine. For a long time it was used to produce mushrooms and to organize parties and concerts. When they out-leased the restaurant in 2010, the mushrooms and the parties came to an end. They started to operate the mine as a show mine. The owners closed the restaurant in 2022 because they retired, first there was no successor. In other words the mine and restaurant were closed.

Fortunately the restaurant has reopened, but the new landlord does not offer tours into the mine. This is now covered by volunteers who are supported by the Gemeinde Buchs. There are still no open hours or regular tours, but at least it is possible to make an appointment. However, there is no email and no contact form, it’s only possible by phone and as far as we know only in German.