Besucherbergwerk Bertsch

Useful Information

Location:	Bergfreiheit, towards Fischbach/Gemünden, after 800 m parking lot right. (51.045145, 9.091784)
Open:	APR to OCT Wed-Sun, Hol 14-17, tours 14, 14:45, 15:30. Historisches Bergamt: 21-MAR to OCT daily 9-18. [2023]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (-14) EUR 2,50. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 4. Historisches Bergamt: free. [2023]
Classification:	Copper Mine Gem Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=30 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Besucherbergwerk Bertsch, Hardtbergstr. 6, 34537 Bad Wildungen-Bergfreiheit, Tel: +49-700-23-74-93-75. E-mail: Edelsteinschleiferei Lange, Im Urfftal 9, 34537 Bad Wildungen-Bergfreiheit, Tel: +49-5626-343, Fax: +49-5626-1223. E-mail: Historisches Bergamt, Kellerwaldstraße 18, 34537 Bad Wildungen-Bergfreiheit, Tel: +49-700-23-74-93-75.
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

1550	beginn of copper mining.
1750	end of copper mining.

Geology

Description

The show mine Bertsch was originally a copper mine. Between 1550 and 1750 copper ores were mined. The tunnels of the show mine were manually hewn into the rock 450 years ago The miners used hammer and chisel as their only tools.

Today the former copper mine is a show mine, but there is still some mining going on. Beneath the copper ores there are red quartz nodules, which are called Kellerwald-Achat (Kellerwald agate). The production is processed in the nearby gem mill Edelsteinschleiferei Lange It is sold primarily as jewelry.

Beneath the show mine there are numerous remains of the mining history in the town Bergfreiheit. In one of the former miner’s cottages is a small mining museum named Bergamt. It has exhibitions on mining, crafts, and local minerals and rocks. At the show mine is the start of the Kulturhistorisch-ökologischer Lehrpfad Bergfreiheit (Cultural-historical-ecological nature trail Bergfreiheit). This trail has explanatory signs about the local mining history, the geology and the ecology.