Guided Tour of the Bromriesen Silver Mine

Deep in the Obertal valley, around 20 minutes by car from the Falkensteiner Hotel Schladming, a guided mine tour leads into the historic Bromriesen silver mine every Wednesday and Friday – to the very place where, at the beginning of the 16th century, around 1,500 miners dug for silver, nickel and copper in the Schladming mountains. From the meeting point at the Hopfriesen hiking portal, a roughly 25-minute uphill walk takes you to the mine entrance; equipped with a helmet, protective jacket and lamps, you climb down ladders into the tunnel system by the light of your headlamp – accompanied by a guide who brings life underground vividly to mind. Inside the mountain, the old mining techniques such as fire-setting, chiselling and blasting are still visible today – mining history you don't read about, but feel.

The tour requires ankle-high mountain boots, hard-wearing clothing as well as sure-footedness and a good basic level of fitness, as the ascent is steep. You can also reach the meeting point comfortably and car-free with the hiking bus into the Obertal valley (Hopfriesen stop) – the journey is included in the Schladming-Dachstein Card. Registration with the Schladming Tourist Board is essential, and the tour takes place with a minimum of five participants. You can find all details on dates, the meeting point and registration here.