Plaster holes and plaster path, Masescha
The Wiesenmulde is a gypsum hole and is reminiscent of the gypsum mining on Masescha in earlier times. Gypsum, calcium sulphate (aqueous lime containing sulfuric acid) was in demand as a raw material, and it was worth mining from the end of the 18th century until around 1865. One or the other meager earnings of the Triesenberg could be improved and some hardship alleviated. A barrel of gypsum brought in 6 to 7 guilders. The Triesenbergers would have earned 800 to 1000 guilders from the gypsum business.
There were seven such mining sites on Masescha. Probably the largest gypsum hole was to the south-east of this trough and was of considerable size.
The pit was later filled in. Today there is a stable on the resulting level. The steep and dangerous path, called the gypsum path (also called the ips path), on which the quarried rock was transported by sled, used to be from Masescha – Sibatal via the Erbi, Fromahus, past the castle to the south and ended in the area south of the Vaduz state hospital.
The rock was transported to the mill wood with wagons. There was a gypsum mill that was built and operated in 1798 by Johann Rheinberger, owner of the Vaduz tavern "Zum Adler".
Text / Source Municipality of Triesenberg