Schwaz: The Fuggers' Silver Town
Mining, a copper roof and Europe's richest mine
FamilyTirolPhoto: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- 2.0 hours
- Languages
- German, English
In the 15th and 16th centuries Schwaz in Tyrol was the largest mining center in Europe, and its silver funded emperors and wars. This private tour tells of miners, the Fugger bankers and the Habsburgs and shows the traces of that wealth.
Tens of thousands once worked in the tunnels around Schwaz, making it one of the largest towns in the Habsburg lands after Vienna. The Fuggers of Augsburg financed Maximilian I and Charles V with Schwaz silver, and the Fugger House recalls them.
The parish church of the Assumption is the largest Gothic hall church in Tyrol, roofed with about 15,000 copper shingles and divided into halves for townspeople and miners. In the Franciscan friary, cloister frescoes depict the Passion of Christ.
At the Schwaz Silver Mine you can ride the mine train into the mountain and see how hard work underground was. It is a real adventure for families with children from about six.
Highlights
- Parish church with copper roof
- Fugger House and the silver story
- Franciscan cloister frescoes
- Silver mine with mine train
- The miners' lives
The route
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1Town square
Introduction to the silver town
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2Parish church
Gothic art and copper roof
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3Franciscan friary
Cloister frescoes
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4Silver mine
Optional mine train ride
Who this tour is for
Great for history fans and families who want to experience mining up close.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No. Entrance fees and tickets for cable cars, trains, boats or tastings are not included and are paid on site. Your guide is happy to tell you in advance what to expect.
Is the price per person or per group?
This is a private tour with a licensed Austrian tour guide. The price is per group, not per person, so it is just you and your own party.
How cold is it in the silver mine?
The tunnels stay cool all year at around 12 degrees Celsius. A jacket is recommended; protective gear is provided.
