The Silver Mines of Rammelsberg in Goslar consist of a visitor mine and an innovative, unusual mining museum with an international reputation relating the history of silver mining on the site where it actually took place. The Mines of Rammelsberg became Germany's first world technological heritage site in 1992.

The mysterious world below ground
Without Rammelsberg mountain and its ores and without mining, Goslar would probably never have become the seat of the German emperors, or an important Hanseatic trading town. The ore deposits were primarily of silver, lead, zinc and copper. The mines yielded almost 30 million tonnes of ore, making Rammelsberg one of the most productive deposits in the world. Finally exhausted in 1988, the mines of Rammelsberg were in continuous operation for more than 1,000 years, an unparalleled feat. The size of the museum itself reflects the vast area that was mined – the museum site covers 20,000m˛ and is one of the biggest in Germany.

Today, visitors can explore the mysterious underground world of the Rammelsberg mines on foot or by pit railway and experience 1,000 years of mining history at close hand. The highlights include Rathiefsten Stollen (12th century), one of the oldest and best preserved shafts, and 13th century Feuergezäher Vault, the oldest brick-lined underground chamber in Europe. Visitors can also take a look at the numerous original mining machines and see them at work. You get an excellent impression of the hard, noisy life the miners led. The authentic reconstruction of a giant water wheel used for extracting ore in Roeder Stollen is particularly impressive and the huge ore processing plant can be seen. Above ground, the mining museum houses a range of extensive exhibitions with a large number of items on display.
» www.rammelsberg.de

A selection of other mining museums in Germany.