Sightseeing in Saxony’s Ore Mountains
Altenberger Pinge The eastern portion of the Ore Mountains is also easily accessible from our Pension and is worth the trip for young and old alike. Around 1400 the first traces of valuable tin were found in the area of Altenberg. In 1440 a rich tin stockwork was discovered and a growing settlement won the right to a city charter in 1451. In 1502 it became the official seat of the prince elect to oversee all mines and mining activity. Toward the end of the 19th century, numerous epidemics, fires and wars led to an almost complete halt in the mining industry. Today, Altenberg is a bustling town filled with tourist activity. It has become locally and nationally known for its winter sport activities. After WWII, tin mining became prevalent again in the area.
A tourist landmark is the “Pinge”, a collapsed mine shaft over the historic mine drift dating back to 1620. Also worth a visit is the technical museum, home to the stamp heads and mill washing machinery which is more than 400 years old and is partially still in use today. Also a historic postal milestone from 1772 can be seen which gives the distances and times per horseback and per foot from Altenberg to neighboring towns and cities. Just four kilometers away lays the Georgenfelder Hochmoor, a natural preserve with swiss mountain pines, sundew, cranberries, and various types of peat mosses; all in all an area that is 11 hectare in size and is about 18,000 years old.