Historic mine of Bartholomäberg

High above the Bartholomäberg, at around 1,300 m in the Knappagruaba area, lies one of the best-preserved mining districts in the Eastern Alps: more than 50 spoil heaps and over 30 collapsed gallery mouths on a good two hectares. Excavations by the University of Frankfurt have shown that iron and copper were extracted here from the late Celtic period in the 4th/3rd century BC, silver was added in the High Middle Ages, and mining ended around 1600. Since 2012 the site has been entered in the register of cultural monuments. Two galleries have been reopened, and since 2010 the St Anna gallery has been accessible as Vorarlberg's only show mine: with helmet and protective jacket you follow the guide about 115 m into the mountain and learn how the miners worked by candlelight. The tour lasts about 30 minutes, and inside it is a constant 8 °C.

Tours are by telephone booking only (+43 664 8403 596), for groups of four or more all year round; the tourist office most recently quoted €15 for adults and €7 for children up to 14 – ask when booking. The meeting point is at the gallery itself: from our house you drive 17.2 km or 27 minutes to the end of the mountain road, or you walk up the miners' trail from the Baroque church of Bartholomäberg in about 50 minutes. Finer still is the circuit from the Kristberg cable car via the Fritzensee to the mine and down to the church (8.7 km, about 3 hours).

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026