Mining XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Period of main mining activity.
20 décembre 1994
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 20 décembre 1994 (≈ 1994)
Registration of remains and underground networks.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Underground networks and surface remains of the old mine (cad. D 399, 400, placed Rain de l'Horloge, 427 to 429, 449, 462 to 466, 468, 481, 796/467, 797/467, 605, 632, 633, 643, 865/634, 866/634, 931/457, 918/438, 919/438, 431 to 433, 439, 870/438, 604, 1504/451, 453 to 455, 458, 469, 825/450, placed Faunoux, 482, placedit Raunenthal, 721, 724, 725, 1272/722, placedit Lernithal, 755 to 759, 760a, 760b, placedit Jakobsmatten, 764, placedit Kesselweisstanne, 884/793 placedit Steinkoepfel, Hirtzenberg und Neuenberg): entry by order of 20 December 1994
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any specific historical actors.
Origin and history
The silver mines in the Neuenberg massif, located in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in the Haut-Rhin, are silver-bearing lead mines (galene) operated mainly in the sixteenth century. They succeed the former Gallo-Roman mines of the Altenberg and are a major testimony of mining activity during the Renaissance. These well-preserved mines are now classified as historical monuments and some parts are accessible to the public through local associations.
The remains of these mines are distributed at several sites in the Neuenberg massif, including the Rain de l'Horloge, Rauenthal and Lernithal. These sites house underground networks as well as surface remains, called the Haldes, that correspond to the embankments and tailings. About 240 mines make up this set, some 30 of which were explored, revealing the extent of mining at the time.
The Neuenberg mines were listed as historic monuments by an order of 20 December 1994. This protection covers underground networks as well as surface remains, spread over several parcels of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines territory. The property of these sites is shared between the municipality, private owners and associations, allowing their preservation and tourist exploitation.
