Bergwerk Platzertal, Historical mine in Pfunds, Austria.

The Bergwerk Platzertal is a former mining operation located in a high alpine area between Pfunds and Tösens at around 3000 meters elevation. The site contains several buildings and structures that show how mining worked in this harsh mountain landscape.

Mining in the Platzer and Bergl valleys dates to the 15th century; a mining guild was founded in 1539. In 1610 the advancing Bergler Ferner glacier forced a halt and overran the facilities. Work resumed in 1884 with a cable car feeding a processing plant that handled up to 1.5 tonnes per hour, and ended definitively in 1910.

The mining operations shaped local life and regional economy for centuries in the Tyrol area around Pfunds. Workers and their families were deeply connected to this place, creating lasting bonds with the community.

Visiting the mine requires a several-hour hike with good physical preparation and sturdy hiking boots. The best time to visit is between June and October when snow has melted and the paths are accessible.

The highest adit was driven at 2,815 m, and some prospecting pits reached higher still, making Platzertal one of Europe's highest mines. The miners accepted the hard life up here mainly because of the high silver content of the ore. Fourteen peaks over 3,000 m stand in the adjacent Glockturmkamm.