Goldkronach: Discover Mining and Earth History
Accommodation in Goldkronach
Mining and Earth History in Goldkronach
Goldkronach combines the history of mining with vivid insights into geology. As you explore the town, you will encounter traces of old mining as well as paths and sites that tell the story of the Earth. This gives your trip a special focus: you can learn about the search for gold, the historic mining area and the region’s geological development.
Following the Traces of Historic Mining
The Humboldt Trail passes through the centre of Goldkronach’s historic mining area. The well-signposted historic Alexander von Humboldt nature trail also starts in Goldkronach and passes 40 mining sites, including collapsed shafts, adit entrances and spoil heaps. These sites highlight different traces of mining along the route. As you walk, you can focus on the evidence of mining history rather than experiencing the town merely as a backdrop.
The historic rock cellars are also of cultural and historical interest, offering distinctive geological insights into Goldkronach’s Earth history. One exhibit at the Gold Mining Museum focuses on early gold extraction, known as placer mining. Even before gold mining began in the early 14th century, placer gold was extracted from the Zoppatenbach near the later Brandholz, as well as from the streams of the Weißmain Valley. This makes it possible to distinguish the early search for gold chronologically from the mining history that followed.
Explore Geology in an Engaging Way
The geological trail in the museum garden of the Goldkronach Gold Mining Museum starts at the Franconian Line and ends at the sandstone formations behind the information pavilion. It presents more than 400 million years of Earth history. In the museum, the significance of the Franconian Line in the area is explained in Room 3, Geology; the geological history of the region is displayed on a stone altar. The trail and museum each have a different focus: outdoors, the path leads from the Franconian Line to the sandstone formations, while inside, the focus is on geological development.
There are 15 Geo-Points at sites of interest throughout the town of Goldkronach. Picture and text panels provide information about each point. These extend the geological insights offered in the museum garden with further stops around the town. If you are particularly interested in Earth history, you can choose between the museum exhibits and the information at the Geo-Points.
Visitor Mines and Seasonal Activities
The Schmutzler adit was restored in 1981 and has been open to visitors for a length of 35 metres since 1985. The opening hours of the visitor mines are separate: the Schmutzlerzeche and the Mittlerer Name Gottes visitor mine are open on Sundays and public holidays, except for the Feast of the Assumption. The season runs from May to mid-October, with opening hours from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The last guided tour is at 4:00 p.m. at the Schmutzlerzeche and at 3:00 p.m. at Mittlerer Name Gottes. If you are planning a visit, take note of the different times of the last tours.
From May to mid-October, gold panning instruction is offered at the information centre on Sundays and public holidays, also except for the Feast of the Assumption, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This activity explores the subject of gold extraction in a practical way and adds another dimension to the historical and geological insights on a visit to Goldkronach.
Discover Other Places
If you are considering places beyond Goldkronach, you will also find Pegnitz, Ahorntal, Bayreuth, Mistelgau, Bischofsgrün, Waischenfeld, Heinersreuth and Gefrees here.
Back to the main travel overview: Bayreuth.
