Bergwerk Käpfnach

Bergwerk Käpfnach extends 1450 meters deep into the mountain with original tunnels and mining equipment still in place from the working era. Inside you also find a small cinema showing historical films and collections of rock samples and minerals from the area.

Mining started here in 1784 with coal and marl extraction that became crucial during both World Wars for the country's supply needs. After the Second World War operations gradually stopped and the site opened as a museum to the public in 1989.

Visitors see tools and documents that show how miners worked and lived underground in this place. The displays preserve the stories of the people who labored here and help us understand their daily lives.

Prepare for cool temperatures underground and wear sturdy footwear since the tunnel floors are uneven and sometimes wet. Guided tours are offered regularly and are the best way to navigate the mine system, though groups can arrange visits at other times by contacting ahead.

Beneath the mountain lies one of the largest tunnel networks of its kind in Switzerland, spanning roughly 80 kilometers that expanded over many generations. This created a vast underground maze beneath Horgen where only a small portion opens to visitors for exploration.

Location: Horgen

Location: Zürich

Inception: 1784

Official opening: December 4, 1989

Elevation above the sea: 427 m

Length: 1,450 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Operator: Bergwerkverein Käpfnach

Part of: list of cultural properties in Horgen

Opening Hours: April-November Saturday 13:00-16:30

Phone: +41447253935

Email: sekretariat@bergwerk-kaepfnach.ch

Website: https://bergwerk-kaepfnach.ch

GPS coordinates: 47.25306,8.61306

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:23