On the History of the Ehrenfriedersdorf Tin Mine
From the beginnings to 1990
The settlement of Ehrenfriedersdorf, located in the Wilisch Valley, was first documented in 1339 as *Erinfritstorf*, though the roots of the settlement certainly extend much further back. Evidence of intensive underground tin mining exists from as early as the period before 1300. According to current research, surface tin extraction in the river valleys—known as *Seifen* (alluvial workings)—dates back to the 10th or 11th century. Deep-level mining on silver ore veins that intersect the tin veins is believed to have begun around 1315.
In 1323, the Waldenburg family—who were of non-noble status—operated their own mint in nearby Wolkenstein (about 10 km away), where silver from Ehrenfriedersdorf was likely the primary material processed. Trade in Ore Mountain tin—documented at the Cologne Trade Fair as early as 1241—helped break the centuries-old English monopoly on tin, a development that had a highly positive and lasting impact on the region.
By the early 15th century, Ehrenfriedersdorf was producing approximately 3,000 *Zentner* (hundredweight) of tin annually, rising to become the most important mining town in the Ore Mountains. Between 1536 and 1570, the "Deep Sauberg Adit" (*Tiefer Sauberger Stolln*) was driven into the mountain at valley-floor level; spanning 2.2 km, it served to drain water from the mines. This adit improved mine drainage and allowed extraction to proceed further and deeper—reaching depths of up to 100 meters.
Around 1540, master mechanics and miners constructed the Ehrenfriedersdorf water-wheel pump—a device described by Georgius Agricola in his seminal work *De Re Metallica Libri XII*. The operating principle behind this water-lifting mechanism remained the dominant method in global mining operations until the 19th century. Thanks to technical inventions and advancements, local miners were subsequently able to penetrate ever deeper into the earth and bring the precious material to the surface.
In 1568, the body of a miner was discovered—preserved almost entirely by the vitriol-rich water—whom veteran miners recognized as their colleague Oswald Barthel, who had been buried in a collapse sixty years earlier. This event, which inspired numerous legends and tales, went down in the region's history as the "Long Shift of Ehrenfriedersdorf."
From around 1700, black powder was increasingly used for underground blasting, replacing the earlier practice of using fire to break up the rock more effectively. This "fire-setting" method consumed vast amounts of timber, placing a heavy strain on local forests. Rail-based haulage systems were introduced starting in 1876.
Mining in Ehrenfriedersdorf experienced many ups and downs over the centuries. In the early 20th century, ore extraction focused primarily on the armaments industry, as tin and tungsten were classified as "strategic metals." After being leased to Kriegsmetall AG during World War I, the *Ehrenfriedersdorfer Vereinigt-Feld-Fundgrube* (EVFF) mine was taken over by the town of Ehrenfriedersdorf in 1920, only to be shut down and dismantled in 1922. Operations resumed in 1936 under Sachsenerz Bergwerks AG, which began constructing what was then Europe's most modern ore processing plant; following World War II, this facility was dismantled and shipped to the Soviet Union as war reparations. However, by 1948, operations had restarted at a newly discovered section of the deposit (the Northwest Field) under the management of the company that would later become SDAG Wismut.
As work sites moved further away from the mine shaft, new methods for transporting personnel and materials became necessary; consequently, mine locomotives were introduced in 1959 to haul first converted ore tubs and later specialized personnel cars underground. Tools were predominantly powered by compressed air, and from 1945 onwards, water flushing was increasingly used during drilling operations to help prevent lung diseases such as silicosis.
Mining operations at the Sauberg site concluded on October 3, 1990, with the extraction of the "last ore tub." Mining operations were discontinued for cost reasons, as global tin prices had been steadily falling for years, meaning that the sale of the ore could no longer cover the high extraction costs—even with substantial subsidies.
Conversion into a visitor mine – up to the present day
Plans to convert the tin mine into a visitor mine began even before 1990. Consequently, securing and preparatory work commenced shortly after operations ceased, allowing for the preservation of original work sites and machinery. The second level was selected as the site for the visitor mine, as the "Tiefer Sauberger Stolln" (Deep Sauberg Adit) ensured the necessary drainage. The lower levels were gradually secured and partially backfilled; utility lines were dismantled, and machinery was relocated either to the second level or to the museum's outdoor grounds. During this period, many former employees and volunteers recovered unique and impressive mineral specimens from the adits, adding them to the mine's mineralogical collection. Subsequently, all areas below the second level were allowed to flood—meaning they were deliberately filled with water—and the shafts were sealed with concrete plugs.
The site officially opened as a visitor mine in 1995; a limited liability company (GmbH) was established in partnership with the town of Ehrenfriedersdorf in 1996 to manage its operations. Further refurbishment work was carried out on the "Tiefer Sauberger Stolln" between 1997 and 1999, enabling visitor transport via the "Saubergexpress" mine train starting in 1998. A year later, the "Sächsisches Industriemuseum" (Saxon Industrial Museum) joint association was founded, with the Ehrenfriedersdorf tin mine becoming a member.
Due to the exceptionally clean air within the mine, a treatment center for respiratory diseases operated there from 1997 to 2020. Individuals suffering from asthma and allergies, in particular, could hope for relief or even a cure. Measurements showed that the air underground was up to one hundred times cleaner than the air on the surface. In 2000, the remains of a wheel chamber were discovered; it likely housed a mine-dewatering machine similar to the "Ehrenfriedersdorf wheel pump" described by Georgius Agricola. Following extensive conservation and restoration work, a replica of the water wheel was installed in the historic chamber; since 2007, it has been open to visitors during guided tours, demonstrating the water-lifting technology described by Agricola in fully functional form. Historians continue to regard this invention as the most significant contribution of Ore Mountain mining to technological development in the late Middle Ages.
