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Mine · Greifenstein region · 492 m

Wille Gottes tunnel

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Greifensteinregion

"Wille Gottes" Stolln in Thalheim
Photo: Vanessa Schüppel, CC BY-ND, Greifensteinregion

Arsenopyrite was mined in particularly high quality at the Wille Gottes mine from the 16th century until 1846. Since 1994, the Thalheim Mining Association has been researching and restoring the tunnel.

At the site, which was first identified in the 16th century, mining was promoted in the hope of encountering silver ore ‒ but without any great economic success. During the Thirty Years’ War, the people of Thalheim hid their few belongings in the old tunnel.

Later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, arsenopyrite, nicknamed “thalheimite”, was mined in worthwhile quantities. The arsenopyrite was then roasted at the Geyer arsenic factory, the “Gifthütte” (“poison works”), to form arsenic, and used beyond the borders of Saxony.

The mine has been open to the public since 1998, and has been protected from sliding into oblivion by the Thalheim Mining Association. Visits are possible by appointment, in addition to regular guided tours during the summer and autumn.

Opening times

Please phone +49 3721 85157 to book in advance with the Thalheim Mining Association.

Author

Corinna Bergelt

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Greifensteinregion

Public transport

You can easily travel to Thalheim by bus or train. Various bus lines from/to Chemnitz, Stollberg, Zwönitz stop in Thalheim.

Next bus stop: Thalheim Rathaus

Directions

Thalheim can be reached via Stollberg or Burkhardtsdorf. In Thalheim, at the large crossroads by the Sparkasse, head towards the old adventure pool on Stadtbadstrasse. Continue uphill and follow the signs to the sports park or forest camp site. You can park your car at the sports park and then walk past it on the left; keep left and you will find the tunnel on the left-hand side at the edge of the forest.

Parking

Parking is available at the sports park. It’s a 3-minute walk from there to the tunnel.

Coordinates

50.708630, 12.837533

DMS

50°42'31.1"N 12°50'15.1"E

UTM

33U 347319 5619654

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