- experience
Abenteuer Erzberg
Europe's most modern open-pit mine to experience up close. From Graz you can reach the Erzberg by car in about 1.5 hours.
Four different tours are offered to visitors by Abenteuer Erzberg from May to October:
- Visitors ride the 1217-HP Hauly along the levels of the ore mountain and can watch the huge heavy-duty trucks and wheel loaders at work. In one hour, you can learn a lot of interesting facts about ore mining on the surface and the everyday life of the miners.
- On Thursdays from May to October, guests can experience ore mining up close - because it gets loud. They are taken directly to the blasting site by Hauly and experience how up to 80,000 tons of ore and rock are blasted out of the mountain.
- The "Katl", a former crew train, takes visitors to the heart of the Erzberg, to the show mine. There begins a tour through the underground labyrinth, where several stations show the hard work of the miners of former times.
- Back from the show mine, the open-air exhibition at Oswaldirücken with old construction machines and modern art objects offers further fascinating insights into mining.
Today, Erzberg is not only the most modern active mining operation in Central Europe, it is also the setting for many exciting and interesting experiences and adventures.
No wonder, then, that the "Styrian loaf of bread", as the Erzberg is also called, inspires tens of thousands of visitors every year. As the "largest pyramid in the world", Erzberg has long been known far beyond the borders of Austria.
Good to know
The Hauly ride takes around 50–60 minutes, while the guided tour of the underground mine lasts approximately 90 minutes. If you would like to experience both tours, allow around 3 hours in total, including time for check-in and other arrangements on site.
Yes, free parking for cars and coaches is available directly opposite the visitor centre at the valley station.
At Abenteuer Erzberg, you can explore the active open-pit mine on a Hauly ride aboard a converted heavy-duty mining truck or discover the history of iron ore mining on a guided tour of the underground mine. The Oswaldirücken open-air exhibition also offers insights into the history and development of mining in the region.
Advance booking is recommended to secure a place on your preferred tour. Tickets can be reserved online and paid for on site. Please collect your tickets from the visitor centre at the valley station at least 30 minutes before your tour starts.
Yes, Abenteuer Erzberg is also a great destination for families with children. The operator recommends the tours for children aged 4 and over. Pushchairs and backpack child carriers are not permitted on the tours, but baby slings may be used.
Temperatures inside the underground mine remain between 6 and 8°C throughout the year. Warm clothing and sturdy footwear are therefore recommended. Safety helmets are provided for the guided tours.
For safety reasons, the active mining area can only be accessed as part of a guided tour. Both the Hauly ride and the underground mine visit are guided experiences. However, you can explore the Oswaldirücken open-air exhibition independently.
Regular guided tours are conducted in German. English audio guides are available free of charge upon presentation of a valid photo ID, which must be left as a deposit. Guided tours in English can also be arranged for groups upon request at an additional cost.
Details
The styrian Erzberg is the largest open-pit iron ore mine in Central Europe, the most important ore deposit in the Alps, a symbol of industrialization, and a key landmark along the historic Iron Road (“Eisenstraße”). Mining activity at the Styrian Erzberg dates back over 1,300 years, making it a place of deep historical and economic significance.
Today, cutting-edge technology enables the extraction of around twelve million tons of rock annually in terraced open-cast mining. From this, approximately 3.2 million tons of pure iron ore are processed each year — a vital raw material for the steel industry.
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