Saint Louis Eisenthür

Mine Gabe Gottes - L'Aventure des Mines

Useful Information

Location:	5 rue Kroeber Imlin, 68160 Sainte Marie aux Mines. 5 km from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Meet the guides at the city centre of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, then drive 5 km with your own cars to the foot of the Neuenberg. (48.244382, 7.180965)
Open:	All year Wed, Sat, Sun, Hol 14. School Holidays daily 14. Summer Holidays daily 13, 14, 15:30. [2022]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children EUR 6. [2022]
Classification:	Silver Mine
Light:	mining/caving gear provided.
Dimension:	L=30 km, T=8 °C.
Guided tours:	Gabe Gottes: D=2 h (total), 45 min (underground), Min=2, Max=10. Saint Louis Eisenthür: L=1,000 m, D=3 h (total), 1 h (underground).
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Centre du Patrimoine Minier, 4, rue Weisgerber, 68160 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Tel: 0389-586211, Fax: 0389-586897. 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

1549	Saint Louis Eisenthür opened.
16th century	Heilig Kreuz opened.
1570	Saint-Louis Eisenthür mine closed.
18th century	Heilig Kreuz renamed Gabe Gottes.
1940	Gabe Gottes closed.
1980	start of research and restoration of the mines by the ASEPAM.
1988	opened to the public.

Geology

Description

There are actually two different mines which are guided as show mines, close to the mining town Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in the Alsace. The mines are completed by a mining museum which is located at the town. The museum and the mine tours are operated by the Association Spéléologique pour l'Étude et la Protection des Anciennes Mines (ASEPAM).

Gabe Gottes is a former silver mine which was opened in the 16th century under the name Heilig Kreuz (Holy Cross). In the 18th century it was renamed Gabe Gottes. It was the last mine, which operated in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and was closed in 1940.

The visitors are equipped with helmet, lamp, rubber boots, and a special raincoat. Nevertheless, some personal equipment is necessary. It is advisable to bring good walking shoes for the walk to the mine. Then a warm coat (fleece) and warm socks, because the mine is rather cold. Dry clothes and a towel to change afterwards are advisable too.

Saint Louis Eisenthür is a silver mine, once the richest silver mine of the whole area. The tour of some 1,000 m of underground passages takes about one hour. Because of the necessary preparations and the trip to the mine, five kilometers by car and some walking too, the tour takes about three hours in total. This is a cave trekking, or better a "mine trekking" tour which requires physical fitness and full caving gear. These tours are available only by reservation.