Saigerhütte und Kupferhammer Grünthal, Industry museum and copper mill in Olbernhau, Germany.
The Saigerhütte and Kupferhammer Grünthal form a complex of 22 historical buildings surrounded by defensive walls. The site displays facilities for copper processing and metalworking that operated across several centuries.
The complex was founded in 1537 to extract silver from black copper and quickly became the main copper processing center in Saxony. For centuries afterward, it remained a vital production site for the region's metalwork.
The site demonstrates traditional copper hammering methods that visitors can watch being performed by craftspeople. These techniques show how metalworking was central to the community's identity and economic life.
The site is open year-round and regularly features demonstrations of metalworking where visitors can watch traditional techniques in action. The historical buildings are spread across the grounds and can be explored independently or visited with guided tours.
The copper produced here was used for more than 400 roofs across Europe, including the Dresden Frauenkirche in its original construction. This metal contributed to the distinctive appearance of several major European landmarks.
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