Rerobichl Mining Trail

Description

The Rerobichl mining trail takes you to a small part of the former copper and silver mining area of Oberndorf. Under the rolling hills of the Rerobichl are hidden shafts and deep in the earth a labyrinth of tunnels and pits. Flat plains attest to former dumps where mine material was unloaded. In the meantime, they have become overgrown with ferns and shrubs or with trees. Mining influenced our region from 1540 until the 18th century and brought a lot of wealth at that time. Interested visitors can relive the history of the Rerobichl and its historic mining industry on the trail with several information boards.

The starting point is at the Oberndorf in Tirol tourist office. Past the swimming pool Bichlachbad, follow the Alfons-Walde-Weg and then keep to the right in the direction of the mountain chapel. The first board informs you about the origin of copper and silver and the first miners of the Bronze Age. The next two boards tell you how ore was mined at Rerobichl and how it was extracted from the stone. In the miners' chapel on the Rerobichl road, built in 1731 in Baroque style, the miners at that time asked for the protecting hand of St. Nepomuk to be spared from dangerous water inrushes into the tunnels. But mine gas explosions were also feared and claimed many victims among the miners. The next stop is dedicated to the "Heilig Geist Schacht" (Holy Spirit Shaft), which, at over 887 metres, was the deepest shaft in the world in the 17th century. After a board provides information about the use of the ore, you change to the other side of the Rerobichl road. In this part of the forest you will read about the legend of the discovery of a new mine, find old concrete fundaments from the revival from 1952 to 1955 and learn about the function of a "fork trench". Having reached the Dorfbachweg, the mining trail soon leads you again left into the terrain. The next board is directly on the former dump of the Goldene Rosen shaft. On the way back, you can increase your knowledge about the hard life in these days and mining at the Hartsteinwerk (mining of diabas) today.

If you would like to know more about mining in Oberndorf from 1540 to 1955, you should definitely arrange a visit to the Rerobichl Mining Museum.