Stamp point 222 / Wettelrode mining nature trail

The Wettelrode mining nature trail is directly adjacent to the open-air site of the Röhrigschacht show mine.

The Röh­rig shaft with its striking land­mark, one of the oldest steel shaft win­ding frames in Euro­pe, is loca­ted in the midd­le of the his­to­ric mining land­scape of the south-eas­tern Harz for­eland. The show mine was ope­ned in 1991, whe­re visi­tors can des­cend 283 m into the shaft on an ori­gi­nal shaft win­ding sys­tem. A mine train then takes them over 1,000 m into a 19th cen­tu­ry mining field, whe­re the deve­lo­p­ment of mining from its begin­nings to modern times is demons­tra­ted and explai­ned using exhibits. 

The approx. 4 km long mining natu­re trail is desi­gned as a cir­cu­lar rou­te and pro­vi­des a uni­que insight into the deve­lo­p­ment of cop­per sla­te mining in the old mining dis­trict of Sang­erhau­sen. This makes it a valuable addi­ti­on to the Röh­rigschacht Mining Museum. 

The vil­la­ge of Wet­tel­ro­de was first men­tio­ned in a docu­ment in the 9th cen­tu­ry. The vil­la­ge is cha­rac­te­ri­zed by a lar­ge num­ber of small farm­steads with hou­ses, sta­bles and barns. In addi­ti­on to their work in the mine, the miners also ran a small farm to pro­vi­de for themselves. 

The sign­pos­ted edu­ca­tio­nal mining trail beg­ins at the par­king lot in front of the Röh­rigschacht, which also part­ly leads over the karst hiking trail. The stamp box is loca­ted near the repli­ca of an under­ground situa­ti­on of the old mining indus­try in the 14. – 15th century.