Home of the treasure
Glittering with silver
Miriquidi - the dark forest. That's what the first settlers called the region. An inhospitable mountain landscape, completely overgrown with trees. But these would soon give way as the settlers discovered that the earth contained a rich treasure: unimaginable quantities of silver. Today, the tunnels, fascinating mining towns and magnificent churches tell the tale of the subsequent silver rush, known as the Berggeschrey. These buildings form part of a cultural landscape unique in Europe. As a result, the region is on its way to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Those who recovered the treasure show their thanks to the Erzgebirge: each year in the run up to Christmas, traditionally dressed miners make their way through the towns in their colliery bands; these impressive miners' parades show the spectators what worthwhile and at the same time arduous labour the miners carried out. The Year's End Parade - one of the biggest miners' parades in Saxony - traditionally takes place on the 4th Sunday of Advent in Annaberg-Buchholz.
Wealthy Erzgebirge
When silver was first discovered, beautiful towns were founded in the Erzgebirge region, such as the mining town of Marienberg, which emerged from the drawing board complete with its square marketplace and regular, right-angled streets.
The Erzgebirge had become affluent and attractive. It is no wonder that creative minds such as Adam Ries, Gottfried Silbermann and Barbara Uthmann chose to live here. A large proportion of the riches that were unearthed can still be found in Dresden. The Saxon Electors and Kings used this to secure power and wealth for themselves.
The old trade route linking the Erzgebirge with the capital of Saxony is still called Silberstrasse (Silver Road).
Places to see in the district
Mining towns:
Annaberg-Buchholz, Marienberg, Schneeberg, Schwarzenberg
Visitor mines:
mine Pöhla, Fortuna Bernstein mine Deutschneudorf, the Frohnau Hammer Mill - a monument to technology and mine Annaberg-Buchholz, tin mine Ehrenfriedersdorf, the Mining Museum in Oelsnitz
Musical treasures:
Silbermann organs in Forchheim and Pfaffroda
Events:
Miners' parades including Annaberg-Buchholz, Schneeberg (for more information see Christmas markets), "artmontan" culture days, Silbermann Festival & Erzgebirge Music Festival, Schneeberg "Bergstreittag" (Miners' Dispute Day, a celebration of a successful miners' protest in 1498), and the largest folk festival in the Erzgebirge: the Annaberger Kät