Description of the attraction
Rugged with red terraces, Mount Erzberg is not only a developing iron ore deposit, but also the most popular tourist attraction in Styria. Underground and surface mining of siderite ore began here in the 11th century. Since then, the mountain, whose height previously reached 1532 meters above sea level, has significantly decreased in size.
The workers who mined the ore built two villages for themselves at the foot of Mount Erzberg, which still exist today: Eisenerz and Dordernberg. From Eisenerts you can go on an excursion along the mountain. The route consists of two parts. At first, tourists, who are given work overalls and helmets, are put into trolleys and given a tour of the underground part of the mine. There are many underground tunnels laid here, in which it is very easy to get lost, so guests are always accompanied by a guide who not only shows the most interesting places, but also talks about the methods of ore mining and the machines used by miners.
During one of the stops at the underground lake, tourists are frightened by the water one, which suddenly appears from the water and tells an interesting story. It turns out that residents of one of the cities closest to the mountain once caught a merman. He began to ask to let him go and offered people various treasures. At first, he promised a rich gold deposit that would not dry out for a year. People refused. Then he promised a silver mine with silver reserves for a decade. People again disagreed. Only after he proposed an iron ore deposit that could be developed for centuries was the water one released.
The second part of the excursion takes place on the terrestrial part of the Erzberg mountain. The guests of the mine are carried by a huge Haul truck, into the back of which you need to climb up a ladder.
