World Heritage Mining Region

Ehrenfriedersdorf Mining Landscape

The region around Ehrenfriedersdorf is one of Germany’s oldest medieval tin-mining areas. Miners began extracting tin ore here as early as the beginning of the 13th century. The Röhrgraben — a water supply channel — was likely constructed as early as the 14th century to deliver water to power the various mining installations. Mining operations, which had been temporarily suspended, resumed in the 16th century thanks to the development of a new water-lifting technology known as the "Ehrenfriedersdorf Kunstgezeug" (mine pumping system). This patented method subsequently spread throughout the mining industry. Numerous surface facilities dating from the 19th and 20th centuries have been preserved, including the main and vertical shafts at the Sauberg mine and the ruins of the "Morgenröther" ore-sorting facility on the Sauberg hill.