Montanrundweg Altenberger Erzberg

Name: Montanrundweg Altenberger Erzberg
Brand: Steiermark
Rating: 1 (1 reviews)

The approximately 2 km long path in the Mürzer Oberland nature park leads to 23 stations of historical interest with relics, houses, heaps, tunnels and pings from the former iron ore mine. The first stop is the "signal bowl" at the Groschenlochbrunnen on the village square in Altenberg an der Rax, station two is the large ore chunk of the war memorial, then it goes over several stations to the miners 'village to the pit house, to former miners' houses and finally back to the starting point over the Altenberg Erzberg.

For centuries, iron ore was mined in Altenberg. There were two mines - one on the Bohnkogel and one on the Altenberger Erzberg. When ore mining began is lost in the darkness of history. However, there are assumptions that the Celts and Romans already knew the ore deposits in Altenberg and knew how to use them.

The first written report comes from the year 1492. At that time the abbot of the Neuberg monastery received permission from Emperor Friedrich III to mine as much iron ore "as necessary for household needs". The mining activity initially took place above ground in shallow pits (pinging).

The first tunnels were cut on the Bohnkogel and Altenberger Erzberg around 1770. A lively mining operation soon developed and at the heyday in the second half of the 19th century, up to 182 people found employment in the Altenberg mines. The population of the place increased during this time from 300 to 857 people. The total length of all tunnels is around 8,430 meters.

In 1893 the mine was closed - because of "depletion of supplies", as it was called. The Altenberg miners, however, said regretfully: "When we got to the most beautiful ore, we had to stop!"