Siebenschlehener Pochwerk, Historical ore processing facility in Schneeberg, Germany
The Siebenschlehener Pochwerk is an ore processing facility from the 18th century in Schneeberg with several buildings marked by slate roofs and half-timbered walls. Two large waterwheels powered the stamping machinery that ground ores into fine powder.
The facility was founded in 1752 and processed cobalt ores from the region into fine powder for dyes. It was created because many smaller mines lacked the equipment needed for ore refining.
The name comes from the nearby Siebenschlehen area, and the site shows how skilled workers handled and processed ores as part of their daily routines. You can still see how the rooms for washing, drying, and storing materials were laid out.
The site is easy to navigate on foot and the grounds are manageable to explore at your own pace. Watch for slippery areas after rain and wear sturdy shoes, especially when using the older stairs and pathways.
Four underground cobalt chambers stored ores from different mines before processing, showing a sophisticated storage system for the dye trade of that era. This structure made the site a hub between the mines and the dye makers.
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