Frühbuß (Přebuz): Nature and Mining History

Frühbuß (Přebuz) begins as a discovery in the Přebuzské vřesoviště protected area: it preserves near-natural habitats that emerged after peat extraction and serve as a refuge for rare and endangered plants and animals.

On the Way

The Hornická poznávací trasa Přebuz offers a unique combination of landscape and history. The route is 5.2 km long and leads to 13 stations. Its length and the number of stations provide concrete parameters for planning the visit and estimating the desired intensity of exploration.

Mining History

The Přebuzský vodní příkop (Erbgraben) is considered Přebuz's oldest mining monument. The Šlik family constructed it in the mid-16th century. At the Panský důl (Herrenzeche), you can gain insights into the rugged open-cast workings, collapsed adits, depressions, water losses and springs left behind by tin mining from the 16th to the 19th century.

The headframe of Hlavní jáma (Hauptschacht) is also a technical monument. Beneath the concreted shaft opening lies a flooded labyrinth of mine workings extending to a depth of 190 m. The Alžbětinská dědičná štola (St.-Elisabeth-Erbstollen) was an important drainage adit from the 16th to the 19th century.

Tin mining in Přebuz operated under the name Čerstvé štěstí (Frischglück) from 1909 to 1914 and as Ritterův důl (Ritterschacht) from 1931 to 1958. It reached a depth of 120 m and left behind rows of subsidence hollows. Jitřní štola (Gut-Morgen-Stollen) represents the beginnings of mining in Přebuz in the 16th century and was converted into an explosives store in the 20th century.

Landscape

Hartelsberg (Čertova hora) is a 987 m-high, cone-shaped landmark of Přebuz's landscape. From there, you can enjoy views of the Krušné hory, the Smrčiny, the Český les, the Slavkovský les, the Tepelská vrchovina and the Doupovské hory. Immediately on the path to Hartelsberg, the Skalka rock outcrop displays characteristic textures of tin-bearing granites.

The path to the tin mine near Přebuz leads from the car park at the crossroads between the church and cemetery for approximately 700 m along a surfaced path. Cars can drive as far as approximately 250 m away, provided there is no prohibition on entry.

Cultural History

The settling pond (Odkaliště hlušiny) is also part of the mining context. It contains sandy residues produced during ore washing. Buchar (Bucherich), on the uphill section of road to the church, was a facility for crushing tin ore and supplied a nearby ore-processing plant and smelter. The processing plant for tin and arsenic ores operated from 1933 to 1945.

Further places to discover: Wintersgrün, Liebauthal, Neudorf Bei Tepl, Teschwitz, Zieditz, Schwaderbach, Zwodau and Königsberg A. D. Eger.

The Church of St Bartholomew in Přebuz is associated with the year 1781; according to the town's history, it was completed in 1787.

For the higher-level travel overview: Falkenau an der Eger District.