Ore Mountains Mining Region

Silver was found at Freiberg in 1168 and mining continued in the Erzgebirge for eight hundred years, through silver, tin, cobalt, and later uranium; the wealth built towns, funded churches and drove technology, and mining terms entered German from the local dialect, including Schicht for a shift and Kobold, which gave cobalt its name. UNESCO listed the region in 2019 as a transboundary site with the Czech side, covering twenty-two component parts. When ore declined, miners turned to woodcarving in winter, producing the Schwibbogen arch, the nutcracker and the Räuchermann smoker figure, all originating here and now sold worldwide at Christmas.

What you actually see

• The show mines - workings open across the range, entered on tours.
• The mining towns - Annaberg, Freiberg, Schneeberg and Marienberg.
• The Christmas crafts - nutcrackers and arches originating with miners.
• The transboundary listing - twenty-two components across two countries.

When to go

April to October for the mines and walking; December for the Christmas markets and craft towns, which are the region's other season. Mines are cool year-round.

Honest expectations

Mine tours require booking, warm clothing and a head for confined spaces. The region is dispersed and needs a car. December accommodation books out.

Nearby

Freiberg lies north; the Czech border runs along the ridge.