Historische Besucherbergwerke Neubulach

Hella-Glück-Stollen

Useful Information

Location:	Ziegelbach 1, 75387 Neubulach. Neubulach, Schwarzwald. (48.6553396, 8.7049576)
Open:	Hella-Glück-Stollen: Palm Saturday to OCT Tue-Fri 14, 15, Sat, Sun, Hol 11-16. Erlebnisführung: by appointment. [2026]
Fee:	Adults EUR 8, Children (4-15) EUR 4, Students EUR 7.50, Disabled EUR 7.50, Seniors EUR 7.50, Family (2+*) EUR 20. Groups (10+): Adults EUR 7.50. [2026]
Classification:	Copper Mine Silver Mine Speleotherapy
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	T=8 °C.
Guided tours:	Hella-Glück-Stollen: L=400 m, D=45 min. Erlebnisführung: D=3 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Heinrich Meier (1982): Der ehemalige Bergbau in Neubulach unter Berücksichtigung der geologischen und mineralogischen sowie strukturellen Fazies der Lagerstätte Eigenverlag, Neubulach, 180 Seiten.
Address:	Besucherbergwerk Neubulach, Ziegelbach 1, 75387 Neubulach, Tel: +49-7053-7899. E-mail: Teinach-Touristik Neubulach, Marktplatz 3, 75387 Neubulach, Tel: +49-7053-9695-10 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

13th century	first mining activties.
14th century	heyday of mining.
1920	Acquisition of the mining fields by the Hella-Glück-Gesellschaft.
1922	Hella-Glück tunnel dug and mining of the Azurit-Höhle (azurite cave).
1969	start of development as a show mine by the Stollengemeinschaft Neubulacher Bergwerk.
1970	Show mine opened to the public.
1996	Stollengemeinschaft der historischen Bergwerke Neubulach e.V. (Neubulach Historical Mines Association) founded.
2004	further tunnels opened up.

Geology

There are several hydrothermal gangues in the red sandstone and shell limestone in this area. The gangue rock is quartz and barite with skarns. The proportions vary, but the main minerals are azurite and malachite, as well as silver and bismuth-bearing ores in significantly smaller proportions. In addition to copper, azurite was also sought after as a blue dye.

Description

Neubuhlach is a town in the northern Black Forest, roughly on a par with Böblingen. The show mine is called the Hella-Glück-Stollen Silver Mine, but as there are various mining-related attractions on site, the name Historische Besucherbergwerke Neubulach (Historic Visitor Mines Neubulach) or, more simply, Neubulach Show Mine is commonly used.

The copper and silver mine in Neubulach had its heyday during the 14th century. The rich ores, especially malachite and azurite, were ideal for manual underground mining. But soon the deposits were exhausted and the mining faded away. This first phase began around 1250, and by 1500 mining was reported to have ceased. In the 16th century, mining was reactivated by Further Austria, and later by the Duke of Württemberg. The yield was minimal. A third attempt was made in the 18th century, with mining resuming in 1719, but this quickly came to an end due to a lack of yield. A hundred years later, the same thing happened again. The last mining period must be seen in the context of the First and Second World Wars. On both occasions, the spoil heaps were mined for bismuth ore.

The show mine was started back in 1969 by an iniciative of locals. The almost forgotten tunnel Hella-Glück-Stollen was cleaned during 7,000 hours of work and equipped with electric light. The Stollenklause restaurant was created, which offers food and drink, and is also the ticket office. Visitors of the mine get a helmet and a trouser here.

The Hella-Glück-Stollen is relatively young, having only been excavated in 1922. It therefore actually reflects mining in the early 20th century. The tunnel is relatively spacious, level and has wooden supports. Medieval mining is also explained, mainly with small dioramas. A slightly larger mine was called the Azurite Cave, where a medieval winch can be admired. In some places, the rock is also exposed with quartz, barite and traces of azurite and malachite. After the tunnel, visitors can view the crushing plant where the ore was crushed to better separate it from the waste rock. In addition, visitors can view a ram pump, a functional replica of the pump used in Neubulach's first water supply system in 1888.

A few years ago a second guided tour was opened, whiich shows a differnet part of the many kilometers long labyrinth of tunnels. The lower tunnels are guided for small groups under the name Erlebnisführung (adventure tour). The visitors get rubber boots, helmets, miner headlamps and water-resistant trousers. Then the narrow and low medieval parts of the mine are visited. The miners back then were no taller than 1.50 metres and often did not live past the age of 30. The tour requires some stooping and to climb mine shafts on ladders, but the visitors are rewarded by impressive geologic and mineralogic sigths. There is copper ore in the rock in form of malachite and azurite, and the socaled Bergperlen (mine pearls).

The Bat Trail is a circular route that takes about 45 minutes to complete. It starts at the mouth of the Hella-Glück tunnel and leads to the mouth of the water tunnel and back. There is also the mining-themed trail Kilians Erzweg, which leads from Neubulach to the mine.

There is also the Neubulach Healing Tunnel, where speleotherapy is offered during the summer months. It is operated by the town of Neubulach.