Měděnec: Mining History and Landscapes in the Ore Mountains

Měděnec Between Mining History and Mountain Landscapes

Měděnec combines striking rock formations with an unusually well-documented mining history. The Sfingy rock formations were created by frost weathering of gneiss and display a wide variety of shapes. The rocks offer beautiful views of the Ore Mountains and the Doupov Mountains. If you would like to combine landscapes and culture in one trip, you will encounter two clearly distinct sides of the town here.

From Mining Settlement to Mining Town

The settlement of Mědník, later renamed Měděnec, developed closely in connection with mining on the hill of the same name. Mining probably began there as early as the 10th century. The first documented reports of mining in Měděnec date from 1449. From 1520, Měděnec was a mining town with the privilege of freely purchasing silver.

A visible focal point of this history is the Kaple Neposkvrněného početí Panny Marie. The Baroque rotunda chapel was built on the summit of Mědník in 1674 and completely reconstructed, including its interior, in 1994. During the Měděnecká pouť pilgrimage in September, a procession makes its way to the chapel every year. This gives the historic mining town a cultural focal point that continues to return to the calendar to this day.

Historic Mine Workings and the Landscape of Mědník

Hornická krajina Mědník is an authentic mining landscape. It documents the extraction of iron, copper, and, to a lesser extent, silver ores from the mid-15th to the mid-19th century. More than 100 shafts and adits once stood on the slopes of Mědník; numerous collapsed entrances and spoil heaps have survived.

Štola Panny Marie Pomocné (Mariahilfstolln) is an extensive system of mine workings of various ages. The oldest hand-hewn passages date from the 16th century. Part of Štola Panny Marie Pomocné is now open to the public. The underground Mědník mining area is currently accessible through two historic adits. There, informative evidence of manual labor and the enlargement of underground spaces through fire-setting from the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century has been preserved. Fire-setting refers to loosening rock with fire. For those interested, exploring underground is combined with tangible traces of historic manual labor.

Further Traces Beneath the Mountain

The entrance to Štola Země zaslíbená lies on the southern slope of Mědník, directly below Kaple Nejsvětějšího srdce Páně. The adit preserves unique evidence of historic manual mining and the loosening of rock through fire-setting. It was probably established in the 17th or 18th century. The historic Cesta z města educational trail is also interesting for orientation in the area: it begins in Útočiště, a district of Klášterec nad Ohří, and ends at the church in Měděnec.

More Places for Your Research

Other places in the broader selection include Domašín, Radonice, Bílence, Černovice U Chomutova, Jindrichova Ves, Mašťov, Místo, and Spořice.

To the broader travel overview: Okres Chomutov.