http://www.bergbaumuseum.de

This is THE mining museum - the German Mining Museum in Bochum.

It is incredible, but in the German Mining Museum nearly everything related to mining can be found, even a tunnel in the depth of 30 metres (ca. 100 feet) that has been built just for showing the visitors the situation underground. Definitely worth visiting - the museum AND the website.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.lwl-industriemuseum.de

This is the website of a very interesting museum, that actually consists of eight different museums. Among them there are very important places like Zollern colliery, Nachtigall colliery and the Henrichenburg “lift for ships” (all locations mentioned are in Germany). In addition to descriptions of the museum’s different locations, you get several pieces of information about interesting exhibitions, publications, a program that is called „Museum and School“ etc..

Because of the fact that this museum is situated at different locations there is no link to Google-Maps.
 

 http://www.buv-kleinzeche.de

BUV is the abbreviation for a community that has the target to support the miners and that was established in 1884 in the suburb called Mengede of the city of Dortmund (Germany). This community is running a small, but very good mining museum in the gatekeeper’s lodge of the former Adolf von Hansemann colliery (Barbara Street 7, Dortmund, Germany). In this museum lots of the tools the miners used in earlier times are shown and a “real” longwall mining area has been prepared. Additionally there is a collection of different minerals and a special room that is dedicated to the miners’ Patron Saint, Sta. Barbara.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

 http://www.stadtmuseum-bergkamen.de

This museum shows the history of the city of Bergkamen in the Eastern Ruhr area in Germany from its beginnings until today. For example, a large camp of the Romans for about 15.000 people was found in Bergkamen, lots of data and facts about which are presented in the museum. Until several years ago, the mining industry was very vivid in and very important for Bergkamen, because large collieries like Grimberg or Haus Aden colliery made that Bergkamen was one of the most important cities in Europe concerning the mining industry. As a consequence, an exhibition in Bergkamen’s museum is dedicated to that industry and for that reason I added this link to the category “mining museums”. In my eyes the museum and the website are really worth visiting!

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.nederlandsmijnmuseum.eu

This very good website is run by the Dutch mining museum in the city of Heerlen (Netherlands). Here you can find several pieces of information and different data about the former collieries in the Netherlands, nice galleries with numerous photos and even some ancient videos. Additionally the visitor can read all that is relevant about the museum. Once again you should not miss the website and the museum, as well !

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

The Blegny colliery is situated in Belgium, as the two letters .be at the end of the domain's name tell us, yet. Today there is a visitors' mine where the visitors can experience a lot about the former colliery, the tools used underground and on the surface, about the work that had to be done underground etc.. Additionally there are some photos showing the museum and the region it is situated in and a collection of links can be found here, as well - take a look at these pages, please.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.mnm.lu

This is the website of the National Mining Museum of Luxemburg that is situated in the city of Rumelange. Here you can find information about the museum and its history. Another main part of the homepage is the presentation of the different possibilities for experiencing the underground visitors’ mine, where in earlier times iron ore has been extracted .The corresponding guided tours can be booked on this website very easily. In addition to all I mentioned before the site also contains a collection of different mining related links.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.statemine.org.au

If you come from Australia or if you travel to Australia and if you are interested in mining then you should take a look at the website of this mining museum in the city of Lithgow in Australia’s Federal State of New South Wales (NSW). On these pages there are various pieces of information about the former colliery, about the museum and additionally the visitor finds a gallery showing photos of important events and the museum’s most interesting exhibits. This museum is not only dedicated to the local coal mining industry, but also to different railways.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.museum-oe.de

This is another mining museum in the Ruhr area, but this one is situated on the area of the former Ewald-Fortsetzung colliery in the city of Oer-Erkenschwick (Germany). Some miners have established a community that runs the colliery's former buildings and the corresponding practice gallery. In this practice gallery you really have the impression of being underground, so that it is really worth visiting it. On these pages you can find various pieces of information about the community, the practice gallery, the history of the mining industry in the city of Oer-Erkenschwick, a collection of links and so many other things that you should not miss visiting this website.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.saarl-bergbaumuseum-bexbach.de

As some of you will surely know, there is a hard coal mining industry in the Saar region in Germany, as well. For that reason a mining museum has been established in the city of Bexbach in the Saar region. On its pages there are various pieces of information about the museum, about how to get there, about the guided tours in the museum and lots of other things.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.rammelsberg.de

The visitors' mine in the Rammelsberg in the German highlands called Harz is something very special, because it is a World Heritage Site of the UNESCO. On these pages there are lots of different pieces of information about the mining museum and the visitors' mine, about the events that take place, the different guided tours that are offered for visiting the tunnels of the museum and about the mine's long history.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.grube-bendisberg.de

The visitors‘ mine Bendisberg in Langenfeld in the Eifel region (Germany) is something very special, because it consists of three different tunnels. In addition to these tunnels there is a miners’ hut, in which a museum is situated and where the guests can eat something or spend the night. On the website there is a detailed description of the mine and its geology. Additionally you can find an interesting gallery with lots of photos from the time when the visitors’ mine and the mining museum were prepared and a collection of links.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.zinngrube.de

Here you can find the link to the visitors’ mine in the city of Ehrenfriedersdorf in Germany, where in earlier times tin ore has been produced. I am sure that this museum is really worth visiting: After the ride down the shaft to a depth of 100 metres, the visitors can walk through different roadways of the former mine, they get explanations about how the ore was extracted, about how it was transported etc.. Additionally the visitors are driven in the mine cars the miners used in earlier times to get to their destinations and back to the shaft, as well. The air in the mine in Ehrenfriedersdorf is very clean so that therapies for people with lung diseases can be offered. All of this sounds very interesting, doesn’t it ?

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.klosterstollen.de

This is an interesting homepage about hard coal mining in northern Germany: In Barsinghausen (close to Hannover) hard coal has been extracted for about 300 years by building and using tunnels. There have been different collieries. The Klosterstollen (translation: "monastery tunnel") is one of them and today it can be visited as a mining museum. You will be dressed up like a miner, go into the tunnel and there you can see a coal seam of 60 cm (about two feet), for example. More information can be found on these websites and on the unofficial page http://www.besucherbergwerk-klosterstollen.de.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.feggendorfer-stollen.de

This is another very good page of a visitors' mine - this time from Lauenau in Northern Germany. Here you can find several pieces of information about the museum and the former hard coal producing mine, there are historical data, the team is presented, lots of photos and different videos are shown and additionally there is a message board, a guestbook etc. - you should really take a look at these wonderful pages !

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergwerk-osterwald.de

This is the third page about the hard coal mining industry in Northern Germany, more exactly in the visitors' mine of Osterwald. Here you can find a virtual visit to the former colliery with several photos, various pieces of information about the mining industry in that region and a collection of related links.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.fuerstenzeche.de

The former Fuerstenzeche mine (translation: "prince's mine") in the Bavarian Forest has got a new destination now. First there is a visitors' mine where you can go down to a depth of 40 metres and watch different minerals, some of them are fluorescent. Second the tunnel is used for curing different ilnesses. In these tunnels there is a constant temperature of 9°C and a very small amount of harmful substances or other particles in the air, so that therapy can be done here. This is a good site with lots of information, some about the history of mining, too.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.silberberg-online.de

This is the next visitiors' mine in the Bavarian Forest, this time it is situated in Bodenmais. There you can take part in a ride by train for about 600 metres into the tunnel (also virtually on these pages), there are information about the mine's history, the minerals and the precious metals produced and different other things. Additionally a therapy can be done in the tunnels, as well.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.knappenverein-peissenberg.de

The miners‘ community from Peissenberg in the German Federal State of Bavaria also runs a mining museum and for that reason the link has been placed here. On the pages there is a lot of data and there are numerous facts about the mining industry in Peissenberg and its history, a footpath along the different tunnels is presented and there is a list of the community’s future events. Additionally the website’s visitors will find a large mining related dictionary and the Upper Bavarian Coal Road (direct translation of the German expression) is explained.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.feengrotten.de

The visitors' mine called Feengrotten (translation: "Fairies' grottos") is situated in the city of Saalfeld in Thuringia (Germany). In addition to basic data about the museum and the corresponding tunnel the visitors get different pieces of information about the geology, the minerals and a long description of the mine's history and other places where the leisure time can be spent in that region.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.vogtlaendisches-bergbaumuseum.de

This mining museum is also situated in the former Eastern Germany, more exactly in the city of Netzschkau. The museum is run with a lot of ardour - all places that are important in a mine can be seen here, the only difference is that they are not underground, but at the surface - the dressing rooms, the pit bank or a tunnel, everything can be found here. So it is really worth visiting the website and the museum.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.besucherbergwerk-sankt-christoph.de

The visitors' mine St. Christoph is situated in the city of Breitenbrunn in the German highlands that are called Erzgebirge (translation: "ore mountains"). In earlier times tin, copper, silver and iron have been produced in that mine. On the mining museum's pages there are different pieces of information about the mining industry in that region, about the St. Christoph mine and the possibilities it offers, e.g. an underground wedding. Additionally there are beautiful photos from the ancient tunnel, a collection of links and a small shop where mining related things can be bought.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergbauausstellung.de.tl

This mining museum is run by a private individual and it is situated in the city of Breitenbrunn in Germany, as well. Heiko Hirschmann collected various tools of the miners, entire trains of mine cars and equipment of the underground fire brigade and presents these things in a special museum. Additionally the rooms can be rent for parties and other events. On the pages there are numerous photos with the corresponding explanations, the visitors have the possibility to swap miner’s lamps and other equipment and there is a collection of mining related links.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergbaumuseum-oelsnitz.de

Hard coal was not only found at the rivers called Ruhr and Saar, but also in other German regions. This mining museum is situated in the city of Oelsnitz in the German highlands called Erzgebirge (direct translation: “ore mountains”). In Oelsnitz there were some collieries extracting the coal from seams in a depth between 9 and 1200 metres. On the pages the mining industry in that region and its history are presented. Additionally you can take a look at different photos showing e.g. the winding machine in the corresponding winding tower and the pit bank. The museum also offers the possibility to realize special events like mining related breakfasts and children’s birthday parties.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.besucherbergwerk-freiberg.de

As the website’s name says, this visitors’ mine is situated in the city of Freiberg in Saxony (Germany). On the pages there are various pieces of information about the local mining history and about the mines the guests can visit nowadays. Additionally there is the possibility to book journeys during which the participants do not only visit the mine in Freiberg, but also other ones in the region called Erzgebirge (translation: “Ore Mountains”). These journeys are something special, because the different mines are not only visited at the surface, but also underground. You should really visit these interesting pages !

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.kalkbergwerk.de

This visitors‘ mine and the corresponding mining museum are situated in the village of Miltitz in Saxonia (Germany). In earlier times limestone has been produced here. On the museum’s pages there are several data and facts about the mine, its history and the geology and the places of interest of that region. In winter the visitors’ mine has special offers for divers: they can dive to a depth of about 60 metres in some of the ancient tunnels.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.molchner-stolln.de

This visitors‘ mine is also situated in the German Federal State of Saxonia, more exactly in the village of Pobershau. The pages of the Molchner Stolln (translation: “Molchner Tunnel”) are very informative. The viewers get information about the visitors’ mine, its geology and the different guided tours that can be booked. In addition to these guided tours the museum offers special events like dinners or children’s birthday parties underground. People who are interested in the mining industry can buy items like miner’s lamps, special books and minerals in the museum’s small shop that is also presented on this homepage.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.schacht-doelitz.de

The Doelitz shaft belonged to the former brown coal mining industry near Leipzig (Germany). Here the brown coal was extracted underground and not in opencast mines as it is common in Germany today. Some years ago a community was established with the target to remind other people of the former mining industry. In order to reach this target the history of Doelitz shaft is presented on the pages and there are also several photos showing the corresponding winding tower and some other buildings. If you want further information, you only have to fill in a form on the pages and by that you can contact the members of the community.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.hoehle.de

This is not really the website of a visitors' mine, but of a visitors' cave, more exactly of the Barbarossa cave in the city of Rottleben in the Kyffhaeuser region in Germany. In the famous legend King Barbarossa was sitting in this cave with his long beard grown through the stone table. In this website there are different data and facts about the cave, about the legend, about the nature reserve of Kyffhaeuser and lots of other things.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

The visitors' mine with the interesting name Morassina is situated in the area of Saalfeld/Rudolstadt between the cities of Saalfeld and Neuhaus in Thuringia (Germany). In addition to the visitors' mine there is the Sta. Barabara tunnel. The air in this tunnel is very clean so that a stay in this tunnel can help people with illnesses in their respiratory tract. On the pages there are information about the visitors' mine and the Sta. Barbara tunnel.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergbaumuseum-friedrichssegen.de

The mining museum Friedrichssegen can be found in a village with the same name that is situated close to the city of Lahnstein in Germany. On these pages there are several pieces of information about the mine’s history, its minerals, the corresponding literature, an ancient miners’ graveyard and lots of different other things. Additionally there are some pages about the valley where the mine’s main tunnel is situated and you can see how the school for the miners changed during the decades.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.besuchsbergwerk-teufelsgrund.de

As it can be read on these pages, the Teufelsgrund mine is the first visitors’ mine in the Black Forest in Germany. Here you can find various pieces of information about the history of the former silver mine, about the guided tour that can be made in the tunnel including interesting photos from underground, about the possibility to celebrate children’s birthdays in the tunnel, etc.. Additionally the air in the Teufelsgrund tunnel is very clean, so that therapies for asthmatics can be offered, as well.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

On these pages a visitors' mine from the Black Forest is presented in a very interesting way: Here you can find news, a good description of what the visitors can see, a history of mining in that region and different data about the community running the mine. This sounds very interesting, doesn't it ?

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergwerk-neubulach.de

This is the third visitors’ mine in the Black Forest (Germany) in this collection of links. The city of Neubulach in the Northern Black Forest has a mining history of more than 1000 years and the visitors’ mine is one of the consequences of that history. On these pages the region’s mining history and the visitors’ mine are explained in a very detailed way. For example, you can choose between different underground tours through the mine’s tunnels – from a quite easy one to a tour through the very ancient and by that very small tunnels. This is a very interesting website with lots of photos, data and facts.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergwerk-hallwangen.de

Obviously in the Black Forest in Germany there was not only a vivid mining industry, but now there are also lots of visitors’ mines, because this is the fourth in my collection of links. It is situated in the city of Hallwangen in the Northern Black Forest and its websites are very interesting, because they contain various pieces of information about the geology, about the history of the mining industry in that region and about past and future events. Additionally a large number of photos is used for documenting and explaining everything that had to be done until the mining museum and the visitors’ mine were opened.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.finstergrund.de

The Finstergrund mine is situated close to the village of Utzenbach in the region of the city of Freiburg in Southern Germany. On these pages the visitors’ mine and its history are presented very well, you get several pieces of information about the local miners’ community and additionally the mine’s potential visitors can take a look at various photos documenting the guided tours underground. This website also has a collection of links and a guestbook.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.philippstollen.de

The Philippstollen (translation: “Philipp Tunnel”) is a visitors‘ mine in the region I live in – the Sauerland. At least since 1350 iron ore was produced in this mine that is situated near the German city of Olsberg. On the pages there is a long description of the mining history in that region and there are several pieces of information about the geology and about what the visitors have to know. The page is completed by a collection of mining related links.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

The Kilianstollen (translation: Kilian tunnel) is a visitors' mine in the region I come from, the Sauerland. More exactly the tunnel is situated in the city of Marsberg. The pages explain the mine and the tunnels belonging to it with a lot of photos, you can experience the history of mining in that region, there is a collection of links and a lot of further information about the museum.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.sauerlaender-besucherbergwerk.de

... gives an overview of 500 years of mining history. Take part in a virtual walk through the exhibitions and the underground tunnels of the mining museum. This museum is situated in the Sauerland - the region I come from. You should take a look at it - virtually and in the real world.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.schwerspatmuseum.de

This is the third website from the Sauerland (Germany) and the correct translation of the domain’s name is “Museum of the Barite”. More exactly this mining museum is situated in the suburb called Dreislar of the city of Medebach. Until before a few years barite has been produced here and the so called “Roses of Dreislar” can be found in the most important mineral collections all over the world. On the website there are different information about and photos of the history of the mining industry in that region, the museum, the geology and the various minerals that have been extracted in Dreislar. The pages are really worth visiting and the museum is even more worth visiting !

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

This link will lead you to the pages of the former Anna-Elisabeth mine in Schriesheim at the Oden Forest in Germany, where today a visitors' mine is situated. The pages really have a good content: A virtual walk through the mine with lots of good photos, a mining-related glossary, the mine's historical data and different pieces of information about the museum.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

This is another homepage about mining in the Sauerland, more exactly in the city of Sundern. In the suburb of Hagen the IG-Bergbau has been established in order to cure the traces of mining in that region. There are interesting photos showing the opening of an ancient tunnel and others from a small but very nice mining museum. This museum contains some historic things like miners's tools or lamps etc. and in addition to that you have the chance to win different prices.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.grube-silberhardt.de

This visitors' mine has been opened recently - in the former Silberhardt mine. Here you can go underground and experience the former silver ore mining during a guided tour with lots of good explanations. In addition to that you can see different photos showing ancient shafts and tunnels on these pages - really worth visiting.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

These pages are owned by the "Roter Baer" mine (translation: "red bear") in the region of Harz (Germany). Here you can find different pieces of information about this mine and also about it's history. There are some photos, as well, showing the different tunnels and the surroundings and you can experience more about the community running this mining museum and the former mine's buildings.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

On the area of the former Theresia colliery in the Mutten valley near Witten (Germany) a museum showing old mine cars is situated. My hint for you: Take a look at the pages and then visit the museum - it is really nice.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.mineralienzimmer.at.tf

The Mineralienzimmer (translation „minerals‘ room“) is a museum in which mining and mineral related things are shown - and the website is corresponding to that: It contains information about minerals, fossils, miner’s lamps etc. and additionally there is a collection of links from all around the world. This very informative homepage is completed by an introduction of the museum’s owner and a guestbook.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.kupferschaubergwerk.at

This visitors‘ mine is situated in the small Austrian village called Radmer an der Hasel in the Federal State of Steiermark. On these very informative pages the visitors get several pieces of information about the copper ore mining industry in that region and about the community that runs the museum. Additionally the visitors’ mine is presented by showing several photos and groups of visitors can book an underground tour very easily on the website. The special feature of this mine is a small train with mine cars that has been built by the members of the community that runs this museum. This train is also explained on the homepage.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.bergbaumuseum.it

These are the pages of a mining museum in South Tyrol. This museum is quite unique: The ore was extracted close to the village of St. Martin in Passeier (north of the city of Meran) in an altitude of more than 2000 metres. There has been a real miners' settlement, lots of tunnels etc.. Today a mining museum and a visitors' mine has been founded in the former buildings and you can go into the tunnel using a train - but remember: it is in an altitude of 2000 metres. On the mount's other side in the Ridnaun valley another mining museum with a tunnel can be visited. A link to that homepage you can find on the pages linked above.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.silberberg-davos.ch

After an Italian museum I can present you a Swiss one now, more exactly it is situated in the canton of Grisons. On these pages you can find different kinds of information including photos of and about the mining in that area. Additionally you can experience the visitors' mine and you can find a collection of links here.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.
 

http://www.schacht-3.de

This page belongs to a community that maintains the shaft 3 of the former Sophia-Jacoba colliery in the city of Hueckelhoven near Aachen in Germany and that runs a mining museum on the corresponding area. Here you can take a look at the history of Sophia-Jacoba colliery, you get information about the future events on the area and a description of the possibilities that are offered for visiting shaft 3 and the museum.

Here is the link to the map of Google-Maps.