Historical development

The history and development of this region has been closely linked with the search for the treasures of the mountains. Ore deposits of varied origins gave the mountains their name.

The initial colonization of the area by farmers from near the River Main in Franconia took place in the 12th and 13th centuries, when it was still an impenetrable expanse of thick woodland. Their typical villages (Waldhufendörfer) running through the valleys, such as Königswalde or Hermannsdorf, testify to them. After some minor deposits of tin, iron and copper ore had been found in the 13th and 14th centuries, a discovery was made on 27th October 1491 that was decisive for the further development of the region: Kaspar Nitzel, a miner from Frohnau, found a rich vein of silver ore at the Schreckenberg. The great “Berggeschrey” (silver rush) in the upper regions of the Ore Mountains was the beginning of bustling mining activities, which resulted in the foundation of several mining towns, e.g. Neustadt am Schreckenberg (later Annaberg) in 1496, Buchholz (1501), Scheibenberg (1522) and Oberwiesenthal (1527).

IIn the middle of the 16th century, Annaberg became the second largest town in Saxony after Freiberg. Evidence of the wealth, power and self-confidence of the citizens of Annaberg can be seen today in the Late Gothic hall church built between 1499 and 1525, the largest of that type in Saxony. Art and science likewise saw a period of prosperity. The arithmetician Adam Ries worked in Annaberg, the painter Hans Hesse created altarpieces for the “Bergaltar” (mining altar) of the St. Annen Church and for the St. Katharinen Church in Buchholz. Hans Witten was the sculptor who created the font and the “Schöne Tür” (beautiful doorway) in St. Annen. Hieronymus Lotter, master builder of the Saxon electors, lived and worked in Geyer. Georgius Agricola, the founder of mining sciences and father of mineralogy, worked in Joachimsthal in Bohemia and Chemnitz in Saxony. For more than two centuries his publication “De re metallica” – “On mining” was the authoritative work for mining sciences not only in Europe but even in Asia, Africa and America.