Silberberg Bodenmais

Historisches Besucherbergwerk Bodenmais - Historisches Besucherbergwerk Silberberg


Useful Information

Location: Silberberg 28, 94249 Bodenmais.
A3 Deggendorf exit, B11 to Teisnach, continue to Bodenmais.
(49.058991, 13.121316)
Open: APR to OCT daily 11-14.
NOV to MAR Tue, Wed, Fri 12-14.
[2023]
Fee: Adults EUR 8.90, Children (4-15) EUR 6.10.
Groups (15+): Adults EUR 8.40, School Pupils (6-18) EUR 5.50.
[2023]
Classification: MineIron Mine MineSilver Mine ExplainSpeleotherapy
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension: T=5 °C.
Guided tours: D=45 min, Min=5.
Photography: not allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Besucherbergwerk Silberberg Bodenmais, Silberberg 28, 94249 Bodenmais, Tel: +49-9924-304, Fax: +49-9924-7362. 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

1313 Mine first mentioned in a document.
27-MAY-1962 mine closed.

Geology


Description

Despite its name, the Bodenmais Silberberg show mine is actually not a silver mine, but an iron mine. Iron ore was primarily mined, but the ore also contained portions of silver and gold. In addition, quartz was also mined for grinding glass, which was profitable due to the needs of the local glass industry.

In the Middle Ages, iron ore was mined by fire-setting. In the process, a large fire was lit on the ore, which heated it up considerably and caused volatile components to escape. The water contained in the ore evaporates and the ore is thus broken up. Then the hot ore is quenched with cold water, whereupon it contracts and breaks up further. It can then be mined with relatively little effort. In the heyday of mining, up to 50 fires burned in the mine at the same time.

Mining technology developed further and blast holes were made with hammer drills and blasted with explosives. In the course of time, 20 kilometres of tunnels were cut out of the mountain.

The show mine is located in the Barbarastollen, which extends 800 m to the Großer Barbaraverhau. It was driven by hand in the Middle Ages, at a rate of two to three centimetres per day. The Barbaraverhau is a large hall created by ore mining. Here the guide demonstrates various tools and machines. The Bremsberg is a 40° inclined winding shaft in which 600 kg wooden wagons with ore were transported 60 m up. The daily haulage capacity was 60 tonnes.