Knappenwelt

Gurgltal valley and its tributary valleys in Tyrolean Oberland were once among the most important mining regions of Tyrol.

Knappen is the German word for a miner who has completed his apprenticeship. The main themes of the mining village Knappenwelt are the historic smelting methods used to separate the minerals from the ore waste. For the demonstration we use authentic replicas of the equipment the mineworkers depended upon 500 years ago. Mineral deposits found in the Gurgltal region include: galena (lead sulfide, PbS), Graubleierz (the local name for ore containing various types of galena and lead carbonate/cerussite formed through oxidation), and calamine minerals (oxidized zinc minerals, of which the most important is smithsonite, ZnCO3).

So let yourself be captivated by the fascinating historic mining methods, and take an educational trip to the past by visiting us at the Knappenwelt.


New from 2013: "The healer from Gurgltal valley"
Exhibition of a female body found in the woods next to Tarrenz and dated to the Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648) considered being a healer.

       
Events:
01.05.2013 Opening ceremony
24.08.2013 Wine festival
22.09.2013 Rupertfest