Main Portal of the Rothschönberger Stolln

The water outlet cannot be admired here. To do so, you have to walk a few hundred meters further to the Röschen mouth. But the main mouth is the more architecturally complex structure. The drainage of the former mines in the Freiberg ore mining area continues to function today through the 14 km long main tunnel (51 km with ancillary facilities). At the time of its construction in 1844 - 1877, the tunnel was the longest underground structure in the world and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Erzgebirge Mining Region / Hornický region Krušnohoří. The centuries-old problem of water ingress in the mines around Freiberg, Brand-Erbisdorf and Halsbrücke was thus solved. However, the tunnel could not save (silver) mining in the long term. The (first) closure of mining took place in 1913. However, it is still important today for water regulation and as a training facility for the Technical University of Bergakademie Freiberg and for the drainage of its teaching and research mine.

Very impressive what was done by the miners in the past.

In addition to the mouth hole, some so-called "light holes" are also accessible. However, due to the enormous length of the tunnel, some of these places are very far away.