Grube Schauinsland

Useful Information

Location:	Schauinslandstraße 390, 79254 Oberried. Schauinsland, from the Schauinsland summit car park (Schauinslandbahn mountain station) 5-minute walk. (47.9095901, 7.8985309)
Open:	Short Tour: Easter to OCT Wed, Sat, Sun, Hol 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30. Summer School Holidays, tours hourly. Medium Tour: Easter to OCT Wed, Sat, Sun, Hol 11, 14. Long Tour:: Easter to OCT Wed, Sat, Sun, Hol 11, 14. [2026]
Fee:	Short Tour: Adults EUR 4, Children (4-12) EUR 3, Families EUR 14. Medium Tour: Adults EUR 16. Long Tour: Adults EUR 24. [2026]
Classification:	Lead Mine Zinc Mine Silver Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:	L=100.000 m (estimated), 21 leverl between 458 m asl and 1280 m asl, T=10 °C.
Guided tours:	Short Tour: D=45 min. Medium Tour: D=90 min, MinAge=12. Long Tour: D=150 min, MinAge=12.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Wolfgang Werner, Hans Joachim Franzke, Günther Wirsing et al (2002): Die Erzlagerstätte Schauinsland bei Freiburg im Breisgau Ber. Naturf. Ges. Freiburg i. Br. , 92, Heft 1, Freiburg 2002. pdf Ch. Lindenbecky, G. Wirsing (1996): Hydrogeologische Untersuchungsergebnisse und 3D-Visualisierung des Grubengebäudes Schauinsland, Arbeitshefte Geologie, 1, 60-65, 1996, Hannover. online
Address:	Forschergruppe Steiber, Oberlinden 16, 79098 Freiburg, Tel: +49-761-26468. 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

12th–13th century	start of mining.
1954	decommissioning.
1971	use for drinking water production.

Geology

As was common in the Black Forest, the mining area around Schauinsland was based on the occurrence of hydrothermal ore veins. Fourteen lead-zinc ore veins occur in an area of approximately 1 km². However, the veins were quite short in length for the Black Forest. Nevertheless, the concentration of veins made this the largest lead-zinc deposit in southern Germany. The number of minerals and ores found in these polymetallic veins is very large, probably around 110.

Description

The Schauinsland (1286 m asl) is referred to as "Erzkasten" on older maps. It is a popular destination for excursions, offering views over the Black Forest, the Rhine Valley, the Vosges Mountains and, in good weather, even as far as the Alps. And, of course, it is very popular with skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts in winter. The Grube Schauinsland (Schauinsland Pit) was the largest silver mine in the Black Forest and the Vosges. Mining took place on 22 levels, and a total of around 100 km of tunnels were created during 800 years of mining.

Although lead-zinc ore was mined at the Schauinsland, a much rarer metal was at least as important for mining. Small quantities of silver are also found here in galena. The silver was an important source of income for the noble family of Zähringen and probably led to them founding the nearby city of Freiburg in 1120. The profits financed, among other things, the construction of the famous Freiburg Minster. After a long period of sustained yields, however, mining declined in the 16th century and came to an end with the Thirty Years' War.

Despite its location on the mountain, the Schauinsland Museum Mine is very easy to reach. A kind of pass road leads over the summit and is also cleared in winter. The exhibition mine has regular opening hours from Easter to the beginning of November, during which three different guided tours are offered at fixed times. The short tour is suitable for everyone, while the longer tours involve climbing down ladders and therefore require a certain level of physical fitness. There is also a minimum age of 12. The ladders are sturdy, slanted and between 2 and 6 m long. In addition, special tours are available for groups all year round by appointment, which is unusual. The mine is obviously not a bat roost. The content and duration of the special tours can be varied. There are also fairy tale tours, crime walks, music in the mine and wine tastings in the tunnels.