Deutsches Goldmuseum

Goldmuseum Theuern

Useful Information

Location:	Im Grund 4, 96528 Schalkau. (50.426840, 11.039260)
Open:	APR to OCT daily 9-17. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 3, Children (7-18) EUR 1, Children (0-6) frei. [2022]
Classification:	Gold Mine Mining Museum
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Markus Schade (2001): Gold in Thüringen, Thüringer Landesanstalt für Geologie, Weimar 2001.
Address:	Deutsches Goldmuseum, Im Grund 4, 96528 Schalkau, Tel: +49-36766-87814. 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

4000 BP	Bronze Age explorers from the Mediterranean visit the area and discover copper, tin and gold.
3000 BP	celtic tribes settle on Herrenberg near Theuern to wash alluvial gold.
12th century	after the discovery of gold, there is a mining frenzy (gold rush).
1335	first documentary mention of gold mining in Thuringia.
1590	gold mining comes to a standstill.
1982	geologist Dr Markus Schade finds a gold placer.
1997	Goldmuseum opened to the public.

Geology

Description

The Deutsches Goldmuseum (German Gold Museum) or Gold Museum Theuern is located in Theuern near Schalkau in the Thüringer Wald (Thuringian Forest). The reason why it is located here are the gold deposits in the Thuringian Forest, which were mined as well as extracted from streams through gold panning. The Grümpen river is almost unknown but one of the most gold-rich streams in Germany, and the museum is located in a mill building at the river. But the main reason is probably that it is the home of the couple running the private museum. Geologist Dr Markus Schade is a profound expert on many gold deposits in Germany, Europe, Siberia, Alaska, Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

The museum focuses on different aspects of gold, the geology of the deposits, mining and historical gold mining. Quite impressive is the wooden model of a pounding mill where rocks were crushed to be washed. An important topic are the hydrothermal deposits of Europe. But also weathering and enrichment in alluvial deposits, so-called placers. Another main topic are the sites in the Thuringian slate mountains and their prospection. The manual extraction of gold by washing is also explained in detail. A reconstructed gold washing trough and a variety of different gold washing bowls are on display. Gold panning courses are also offered.