Ore Diggers' Trail ("Erzgräberweg")

The smelting of iron ore in the municipality of Schmelz dates back to before the Thirty Years‘ War (1618 - 1648). In 1686, the Marquis Lénoncourt commissioned the construction of ironworks, complete with a smelting furnace in Dillingen and in Bettingen. The latter, as it wasn’t profitable anymore, was shut down in the 1860s and auctioned off in 1869. The region is rich in bog iron ore, limestone, charcoal and it profits from the hydrodynamic power of the Prims, an affluent of the Saar. The „Erzgräberweg“ (ore diggers‘ trail), one of the Saar-Lor-Lux cultural hiking trails, leads to the vestiges of the preindustrial ore smelting era in Schmelz. The trail starts at the “Dreihausen” parking lot on Ambetstraße and leads past the Sollbach creek to the abandoned ore mines, whose sheer size points to the magnitude of the mining activity.

relevant filming facts

usage:

"Premium" labelled cultural hiking trail

condition:

good

lighting conditions:

natural light

Background noise:

calm

surroundings:

nature

Space restrictions:

none

Time restrictions :

none

Catering:

not available

premises:

not available

accessibility

car:

To get to Schmelz, either take the A1 ("Hasborn" exit) or the A8 ("Dillingen-Mitte" exit). In Hasborn, get on the L145, pass through the Bohnental valley until you get to Schattertriesch. Turn left onto the L268, after approx. 2 km, you will reach Schmelz. In Dillingen, follow the signs to Lebach and get on the L269. In Körprich, keep left, direction Schmelz. In the city centre of Schmelz, follow the signs to Lebach, cross the train tracks, leave the main road, and turn left onto Ambetstraße. Continue for about 1 km and turn right onto Goldbacher Straße: you will have reached the starting point of the hiking trail.

train:

Take the train to "Lebach" station, then take the bus (R3) to the "Schmelz Brücke" stop, and continue on foot for another 10 minutes until you reach Ambetstraße