Erzgebirge Facts for Kids

Erzgebirge

The Ore Mountains (called Erzgebirge in German and Krušné hory in Czech) are a mountain range located in Germany and the Czech Republic. These mountains form a natural border between the two countries for about 150 kilometers. They stretch from the western part of Saxony all the way to the Elbe river.

Lake in Ore Mountains.

The Ore Mountains are well-known for their many special Christmas traditions. Long ago, people here mined for valuable ores like silver and tin. But when these metals became harder to find, the miners needed new ways to earn a living. So, they started making beautiful things by hand.

They became very skilled at lace making, weaving, and especially wood carving. Many famous Christmas decorations come from this region. These include nutcrackers, "smoking men" (little figures that hold incense), "pyramids" (carousels with figures from the Christmas story or mining scenes), and Schwibbogen (wooden arches with candles, which look like the entrance to a mine). The town of Seiffen in the Eastern Ore Mountains became a famous center for making wooden toys.

History of Mining and Crafts
- From Mines to Workshops
  - Wood Carving and Toys
  - Lace Making and Metalwork
Life in the Ore Mountains Today
- Nature and Recreation
- Towns and Culture
  - Christmas Traditions
Images for kids
See also

History of Mining and Crafts

The history of the Ore Mountains is deeply connected to mining. For centuries, people dug for valuable metals like silver and tin. This mining brought a lot of wealth and shaped the culture of the region.

From Mines to Workshops

When the mines started to run out of ore, the people living in the Ore Mountains had to find new jobs. They used their creativity and skills to start new industries. This led to the growth of traditional crafts that are still famous today.

Wood Carving and Toys

One of the most important new crafts was wood carving. People began to carve detailed figures and toys. This tradition is still very strong, especially in towns like Seiffen. The wooden toys and decorations from the Ore Mountains are loved all over the world.

Lace Making and Metalwork

Besides wood carving, bobbin lace making also became popular. Women would create intricate lace designs, which helped families earn money. The region also developed skills in metalworking, building on its mining past. Places like Frohnauer Hammer show how iron was worked into useful items.

Life in the Ore Mountains Today

Today, the Ore Mountains are a beautiful place to visit. They offer stunning natural landscapes and a rich cultural heritage.

Nature and Recreation

The mountains are a great place for outdoor activities. In winter, you can go skiing at resorts like Klínovec. In warmer months, there are many trails for hiking and exploring the forests and lakes. The region has unique natural areas and interesting rock formations.

Towns and Culture

Many towns in the Ore Mountains have a long history tied to mining and crafts. Annaberg-Buchholz is home to the impressive St. Anne's Church, which has an old mining altar. Boží Dar on the Czech side is actually the highest town in Central Europe. You can still see old mining tunnels and museums that tell the story of the region's past.

Christmas Traditions

The Christmas traditions are still a huge part of life here. During the holiday season, towns are decorated with the famous wooden figures and candle arches. Miners' parades, where people dress in traditional mining clothes, are also a special sight.

Images for kids

View from Mückentürmchen in the Eastern Ore Mountains to the west. Left: the escarpment descending to the Eger Graben; right: the gentle northern dip slope.
The Ore Mountains and adjacent regions
View of Breitenbrunn in the Ore Mountains, from Joachimsthaler Strasse
Stein Castle on the Zwickauer Mulde
The natural regions on the Saxon side of the Ore Mountains
The Stürmer in winter
Silver from the Freiberg district
From the second half of the 13th century glass manufacturing in the Ore Mountains established itself, but lost its significance with the mining boom.
Historic depiction of mining on the Annaberg mining altar (1522)
Frohnauer Hammer Museum of Technology, an example of the iron hammer mills that were built as part of the mining industry.
Replica open horse gin above the Rudolph Shaft (Rudolphschacht) in Lauta
Following the decline of mining, the manufacture of wooden goods and toys developed, especially in the Eastern Ore Mountains.
The manufacture of bobbin lace and trimmings also expanded as the mining industry declined.
The first large paintmill in Saxony was founded in 1635 in Niederpfannenstiel, from which a blue paintworks later evolved.
The metalware factory of Louis Krauss, founded in 1887, in Schwarzenberg/Erzgeb. had developed by the time of German reunification into one of the most important production facilities for washing machines in Eastern Europe.
Trail map of ski resort Klínovec (Klinovec-Oberwiesenthal).
Germany's oldest, still working smelting facility in Muldenhütten near Freiberg.
VEB Zinnerz open pit mine in Altenberg (1982).
Boží Dar (German: Gottesgab) on the Czech side, is actually the highest town in Central Europe.
Annaberg-Buchholz, St. Anne's Church
Radium Palace Hotel in Jachymov.
The Svornost mine in Jachymov (the Czech Republic) (1525) is the oldest mine still in use in Europe.
Miners' parade in Marienberg
Christmas in the Ore Mountains: candle arch with nutcracker and smoking figurines in Seiffen
Climatic diagram of Annaberg-Buchholz
Climatic diagram of Freiberg
Climatic diagram of the Fichtelberg
Climatic diagram of Zinnwald-Georgenfeld
Stürmer mountain in March 2008
Old adit near Johanngeorgenstadt
Jáchymov town hall
Klínovec mountain
Uranite from the Ore Mountains
Castle Krupka (the Czech Republic)
Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad in German, Carlsbad in English) is one of the most famous spas in the world. They are located below the Ore Mountains on the river Ohře