The Römerschacht is one of the most significant witnesses to Altenberg's mining past — a former main extraction shaft that powered tin production from the legendary Zwitterstock deposit for over a century. This is where the history of tin mining in the Eastern Ore Mountains meets a story of human perseverance and engineering skill.

Standing at the old shaft site, you can feel the weight of history — right next door lies the famous Altenberger Pinge, a massive subsidence crater formed by centuries of mining. The landscape here is stark and typical of the high Ore Mountains: open, windswept terrain, sparse vegetation, and visible traces of mining activity everywhere you look. In winter the area is often snow-covered and quiet, while in summer it draws visitors keen to explore the region's industrial heritage.

How to get there

• Starting point: Altenberg town centre — part of the cross-border mining heritage trail, a few minutes' walk from the market square, easy difficulty
• Alternative: follow the educational trail from the Altenberg Mining Museum, linking several historic sites along the way

Practical information

• The shaft operated from 1837 to 1963, reaching a depth of 237 metres
• Named after mining commissioner Jobst Christoph von Römer
• The distinctive headframe tower was demolished in 1989 due to structural decay
• After extraction ceased, the shaft continued to be used for ventilation until 1992

Although the headframe no longer stands, this site still tells a fascinating story of how a small town became Europe's most important tin mining district.