Former Mine in Trachsellauen

In Trachsellauenen in the back of the Lauterbrunnen valley, in the 17th and 18th centuries ore was mined and processed to metal on a modest industrial scale. The recovery of lead and silver was the main focus. The deposits have been situated on the steep slopes of the west valley side. In arduous work they constructed tunnels, some of which measured several 100 meters. Above the hamlet Trachsellauenen the ore was smelted in a furnace. Storms, fires, avalanches and floods caused repeatedly damage to the installations. Compared with richer deposits abroad, the ore content proved to be too low, therefore the mining was stopped at the beginning of the 19th century. From the former mine only ruins are left. These were uncovered in 1992 in the framework of archaeological studies. The facility is located along the trail from Trachsellauenen to Obersteinberg.