Gipsmuseum Schleitheim, Mining museum in Schleitheim, Switzerland
The Gipsmuseum Schleitheim occupies a historic mining tunnel where visitors can see geological layers and the tools workers once used to extract gypsum. The exhibition explains how miners dug and processed the mineral, showing the methods from underground extraction to final uses.
The tunnel operated for gypsum mining before closing in 1904 when extraction became unprofitable. The Stamm family opened the museum in 1938 to preserve and share this chapter of local mining heritage.
The place shows how gypsum mining shaped local work and livelihoods for generations, connecting the region to building and farming practices across the country.
Access is through the historic tunnel, which is walkable but cool and damp underground. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a jacket, as conditions inside remain chilly throughout the year.
Small water basins with symbolic names appear near the end of the tunnel, formed by natural water flow over time. These pools are a subtle feature that many visitors walk past without noticing, yet they reveal how water shapes the underground space.
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