A short imaginative trip through our history

The history of the Ore Mountains was determined decisively by
silver mining.
The beginning of mining in the Ore Mountains goes way back to the 12th century when silver was discovered.
To clear the mine from rocks and water, a special procedure was required to which the working strategies of the miners were not equal at the time. The first splendid period of mining ended when the prospecting on the surface had degenerated into ruinous exploitation.
On the 28th October in 1491, a certain Kaspar Nietzelt opened up a duct in Frohnau and stumbled on silver deposits at the Schreckenbeg. There up on a powerful call, "das Große Berggeschrey", was heard all over the country, and as a consequence, as many people as moved to the Klondike, made their way to the Ore Mountains. The albertian sovereign duke George the Bearded became active right in the beginning and founded a new city, the "Neue Stadt am Schreckenberg" known today as Annaberg, on the 21st of September in 1496.

Already in 1498, a new coin was made and a mining office opened. One year later, in 1499, the foundation-stone of the late gothic hall church, St. Annen, was laid, which is the biggest of its kind in Saxony to this day. In 1502 the duke arranged the construction of a huge franciscan monastery.

The "Annaberger-Bergordnung", which is a paper of regulations about mining, was written in 1509 and gained recognition in all parts of saxony and different European mining areas.
more infos about Annaberg...

As a result of the becoming mining, Annaberg became the 2nd largest city in Saxony with a number of 12.000 inhabitants, in 1530. Numerous artists, artisans and lords made the Ore Mountains well known and created important works of art and material assets. Personages such as:
    ADAM RIES, the german master of arithmetics
    BARBARA UTHMANN who was known for promoting the art marking laces,
    HANS WITTEN who was an important sculptur in the end of the middle age and
    HANS HESSE who created the well known "Annaberger-Bergaltar", an altar in the church of St.Annen,
are connected with the early history of the area. By the end of 16th century, when the output in the mining industry decreased and the importance of mining went down, different fields of production gained significance. From 1560 onwards wood-carving, making laces and making braids spread rapidly. In the 17th and 18th century these trades reached their climax.

Besides the decrease in the mining industry, the history of the Ore Mountains experienced another setback in 1604, when almost the entire city of Annaberg was destroyed in a fire. Very hard years were also those, when the plague had broken out in the of 1506, 1569 and 1599.

As a consequence of the introduction of freedom of trade in Saxony in 1861 and the opening of the railway line for trains between Chemnitz and Annaberg in 1866, the area received fresh revival in artscraft, industry and trade.

The prosperity of the industry caused the USA to operate an own consulate in the city between 1879 and 1908.

The one, who once come to the Ore Mountains around Christmas time, cannot get rid of the fascination about the Christmasland ever again. Many traditions entangeled with the birth of Christ as origin of the holiday have stayed alive. Very often they are connected with the mining and the way of life in the area. From the 1 st sunday in advent on,
most of the cities and villages are dressed with snow and shining lights.
Angel and miner symbolize the yearning for light. It is said that in former times everybody was able to tell how many children belonged to a family. There was an angel for every girl and a miner for every boy standing in the window.

Almost every town in the area is decorated with an outsized pyramid and an arc, most of which were made by wood-carvers from the Ore Mountains. A beauty among them is the new pyramid in Annaberg, which was put up in 1992 for the first time on the Christmas market . It is decorated with figures from the history of the town. It`s possible to purchase such figures small format, to collect them and if you want to, a pyramid can be manufactured.

- An unmistakable souvenir of our region -

Filled with Christmas music and tempting smells one can move on from the Christmas market and can enjoy the extensive cultural program that is offered. There are all kinds of music ranging from dialect to high German that can be heard everywhere.

Those who are interested can take part in a miners Christmas ceremony or the Christmas matins early in the morning of Christmas Day. By the way, not before then do the real Ore Mountenirs cut the legendary butter loaf . The most wonderful experience though is probably a walk through streets and lanes to enjoy the bright light in all the windows.















The miners yearning to light
is still alive.

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