The Site

The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří (Ore Mountains) is a historic mining region spanning south-eastern Germany and north-western Czechia, renowned for its rich deposits of metals that have been extracted since the Middle Ages. From 1460 to 1560, the region became the most important source of silver ore in Europe, fuelling economic expansion and technological advancements that shaped global mining practices. Mining in the Ore Mountains was a catalyst for scientific and technological innovation, with expertise developed in the region influencing mining operations across Europe and beyond. Tin, the second most noteworthy metal historically extracted in the area, was mined extensively, and by the late 19th century, the region emerged as a major global producer of uranium, further cementing its industrial importance well into the 20th century. The cultural landscape of the Ore Mountains bears the imprint of 800 years of nearly continuous mining, from the 12th to the 20th century, evidenced by a complex network of historic melting towns, mineral processing, and pioneering water management systems.

One of the region’s most historically significant mining areas is Ehrenfriedersdorf, located thirty kilometres south of Chemnitz. Tin ore was discovered here in the 13th century, and mining operations continued until the early 1990s. Over the centuries, silver and other minerals were also extracted from the local mines, contributing to the area’s economic and technological importance. The mining landscape of Ehrenfriedersdorf is particularly notable for its connection to one of the most revolutionary technological innovations in European mining history: the Ehrenfriedersdorfer Kunstgezeug, a pioneering water pumping system developed around 1540. This system allowed mines to operate at unprecedented depths by efficiently hoisting and draining water, greatly enhancing productivity. The technology quickly spread across European mining regions and, alongside the artificial linkage system developed in Sankt Joachimsthal (today Jáchymov) in 1551, became the dominant water hoisting method worldwide for over two centuries. The importance of the Ehrenfriedersdorfer Kunstgezeug is extensively documented in Georgius Agricola’s "De re metallica", the foundational 16th-century treatise on mining and metallurgy. Today, the original pumping wheel chamber of the Ehrenfriedersdorfer Kunstgezeug remains preserved, offering an unparalleled insight into early mining engineering.

Following the closure of commercial mining operations in 1990, the site was repurposed as a heritage and visitor centre, officially opening as the Zinngrube Ehrenfriedersdorf Visitors’ Mine in 1995. In 2025 reaching its 30th anniversary, the museum has become an important interpretative site within the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage site, inscribed in the World Heritage List in 2019. It provides comprehensive insights into the evolution of tin mining, displaying archaeological remains and preserved technological ensembles that span several centuries. These include evidence of medieval surface and open-cast mining from the 14th century, as well as an extensive underground mining infrastructure dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries. Visitors can explore the site through guided tours, gaining a deeper understanding of historical mining conditions. A particular highlight is the opportunity to descend into underground mining galleries, where the visitors are transported on a mine train to tunnels hundreds of metres beneath the surface – some of which remain narrow and physically demanding to access, offering a rare and authentic glimpse into the realities of historic ore extraction.

Beyond the underground workings, Ehrenfriedersdorf preserves one of the most significant features of its historic mining infrastructure: the Röhrgraben, one of the oldest artificial mining water channels in the Ore Mountains. Constructed in the second half of the 14th century, this system of ditches was integral to mining operations, supplying water to stamp mills, ore washing facilities, and smelting sites. The Röhrgraben played a crucial role in tin production, directing water to the tin works on the Sauberg Hill and in the Seifenbach Valley near Ehrenfriedersdorf. Georgius Agricola also referenced this system in his writings, demonstrating its historical importance. Remarkably, until mining ceased in 1990, the Röhrgraben remained operational, making it the oldest artificial mining water channel in Germany still in use at the time. Today, the Röhrgraben is fully integrated into the hiking trails surrounding the Greifensteine rock massif, allowing visitors to explore this historic water management system within the region’s striking natural landscape.

The Zinngrube Ehrenfriedersdorf Visitors’ Mine is part of the Saxony Museum of Industry highlighting its significance within the broader context of Saxony’s industrial heritage. From the top of the mine headstock, visitors can appreciate panoramic views of the surrounding mining landscape, gaining an understanding of the scale and complexity of centuries-old mining operations. The museum also features exhibitions on metal mining, mining technology, and the daily lives of miners, with a particularly extensive collection showcasing over a thousand different mineral specimens.

Ehrenfriedersdorf Tin Mine remains a site of exceptional historical and technological significance, offering invaluable insights into the evolution of mining in the Ore Mountains and its lasting impact on the cultural landscape.

The Project

The 2025 European Heritage Volunteers Project in Ehrenfriedersdorf, continues the conservation efforts initiated during a previous European Heritage Volunteers Project in 2022.

The project focuses on conservation works on historic mining water systems, which played a crucial role in the technological advancement of mining operations in the Ore Mountains for centuries. The development of this water management technology and the integral conservation of these hydraulic structures into the present, including above and belowground water channels, were fundamental to the region’s World Heritage designation, reflecting the historical innovations in water control that facilitated extensive mining activities.

The hands-on conservation work will centre on the restoration of a section of a historic Röhrgraben mining water channel. Running parallel to one of the main hiking trails through the forested hills of Ehrenfriedersdorf, this water system remains an important part of the region’s industrial heritage. Conservation work will involve clearing the channel of accumulated debris and overgrowth, restoring its stone containment walls using traditional dry-stone masonry techniques, and replacing the wooden support beams that are critical to maintaining the structural integrity of the system. All interventions will be conducted under the guidance of specialists from the visitors mine museum, ensuring that the original construction methods are respected, and that the authenticity of the site is preserved.

In addition to the restoration of the water system, the participants will also contribute to the maintenance and conservation of historic mining machinery at the Zinngrube Ehrenfriedersdorf Visitors’ Mine, one of the interpretative centres of the Ore Mountains Mining Landscape. This work will provide hands-on experience in industrial heritage conservation, as the participants will assist museum professionals in caring for the mining artefacts.

In addition, other works are envisioned, such as the stabilisation of a mine entrance, where the participants will help to reinforce its stone masonry structure using techniques consistent with historic mining construction practices.

The educational programme will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of mining heritage conservation, focusing on the interaction between industrial heritage, environmental sustainability and modern uses of industrial heritage in their natural contexts. The World Heritage Association for the Ore Mountains Mining Region will facilitate guided tours at heritage sites in the region, offering insight into the region’s 800 years of mining history and the engineering innovations that contributed to its UNESCO World Heritage status.

One element of the educational programme will be the participants' presentations, where the participants will prepare and deliver presentations on successful examples of industrial heritage conservation in their home countries. This part of the programme is designed to facilitate intercultural exchange and professional dialogue on the challenges and methodologies of mining heritage conservation.

The educational programme will be enriched by an excursion to the city of Chemnitz, which has been designated as the European Capital of Culture for 2025. The excursion will provide participants with insights into the city's heritage sites, its cultural initiatives and its role in the broader European cultural landscape.

The project will take place from August 17th to August 30th, 2025, and is organised by European Heritage Volunteers in collaboration with the Zinngrube Ehrenfriedersdorf Visitors’ Mine, the Ehrenfriedersdorf Municipality, and the World Heritage Association for the Ore Mountain Mining Region.