Schaubergwerk "Volle Rose", Show mine in Schortetal valley, Ilmenau, Germany
The Volle Rose is a historic mine in Schortetal valley with an underground railway system that carries visitors through tunnels. The site demonstrates how mining was conducted in the past and what techniques miners used.
Mining started here in the 12th century to extract copper and silver, with written records from 1601 onward. Later the operation shifted to extracting fluorite.
The tours show traditional mining techniques and original tools from different periods that visitors can still see in the tunnels today. You get a direct sense of how miners worked here over many generations.
The mine is open from May through October on weekdays and weekends with morning hours available. You should register in advance and bring warm clothing since the tunnels stay cool.
Visitors actually ride in a small underground train into the tunnels, which is a rare experience in mining tourism. This ride allows you to reach deeper areas that would otherwise be hard to access.
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