Krumhennersdorf - Mining Heritage
Germany
Construction
Construction
Fixed dates
About the project
Krumhennersdorf - Mining Heritage
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The history of Open Houses Network dates back to the mid-1980s, when a group of young people began to restore village churches in East Germany in voluntary work to protect them from decay. The initiative to save these buildings brought together people who enjoyed the freedom these activities provided, bringing life again to these places in ways which by far exceed the craftsmen's work done – through exhibitions, concerts, making music together or just sitting by a camp fire.
Today, spaces free of political and ideological pressure are no longer urgently required; nonetheless, it is now rare to find places where people can meet without commercial pressure, free of bureaucracy and institutionalism, free of prejudice and the exclusion which it produces. What should be easy – to go somewhere in order to meet people and to work together – has become difficult. The tightrope walk between, on the one hand, public activities in a monetary and functional sense, and the retreat into private life on the other, is very difficult, and it requires a lot of power and permanent efforts to tackle red tape and financial restrictions.
Free spaces are less and less understood as common property, and are permanently being cut back. The idea of public property seems to have gone out of fashion, and places of common responsible work have become rare.
Open Houses Network tries to create and protect such spaces. In this process, we do not want to be the do-ers. We want to be those who propose vision of initiating a new change in perspective while still being aware of the need to rely in the co-operation of others. We understand our projects and events as offers – as offers to create space for commitment, for changes, for meetings.
💼 What the programme involves
The project consists of two parts – a practical working part which will last six hours per day and a study part, which takes place in the evenings and during weekends
The main focus of the project will lie on the section of the water wheel related to the waterworks of the mining system, where urgent work is required to aid in the conservation of the remaining constructions. The task will be to construct robust supporting structures for the arches in place, in order to stabilize them and therefore prevent further damage due to its state and age. The works will be led by a master of carpentry who has additional education as “Restorer in Handicraft”.
Additionally, the second task will revolve around the remains of the boat lifting system some 300 meters away from the first working site. This experimental system was in use on the Churprinz mining canal and lifted boats seven meters using a moveable hoist. The lift operated between 1758 and 1868. Since it lays now partly filled up by debris and silt, the volunteers will be tasked with cleaning the area. The bulk of the restoration work will be to repair the damaged wall, filling up with mortar the gaps and stabilizing the structure.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The Guesthouse will accomodate the volunteers in shared bed-rooms. It is a simple accommodation place, where all the basic facilities for the daily needs of the volunteers will be available. Both food and accomodation are included for the volunteers as part of this project.
📍 About the location
Located in the Northern Freiberg mining district, the ore canal, its related mines Churprinz August Friedrich Erbstolln and Alte Hoffnung Gottes Erbstolln, and the Halsbrücke smelting place are lined from south to north between the former mining settlements of Halsbrücke and Kleinvoigtsberg along the Mulde River. The section of the ore canal of the Churprinz Friedrich August Erbstolln mine runs along the right bank of the Freiberger Mulde River, south-west of the tub boat lift. The Halsbrücke smelter is located at Halsbrücke in the Freiberger Mulde valley, not far from the mining sites on the Halsbrücker Spat. It is a component of the Freiberg Mining Landscape, to which it is connected by the Mulde River to the Freiberg central mining district and the Gersdorf mining landscape to the north.
The Ore canal, which is mostly nowadays silted, is still visible carving its way through the landscape. The canal is connected to the Mulde River that is running parallel by the remains of the boat lifts. The entire canal system covered 11 km. To improve the transport of ore from the mines to the smelter, a shipping canal was constructed in 1788/89 (Churprinzer canal) and enlarged in 1790/92 (Christbescherunger canal). The canal was fitted with two ore-boat lifts, which are probably among the oldest boat lifts in the world. Ore ceased to be transported by barge in 1868, when the canal water started being used to supply a turbine mine water pumping system (Kunstgezeug) during the construction of the Rothschönberger Stolln (drainage gallery) at Lichtloch VII (air shaft).
Leisure time:
The project will take place in a small village of rural Saxony, so the participants should not expect busy places and normal city activities for the leisure time during the working days. Small trips and hikes within walking distances are possible in the afternoons. There will be a free day where an excursion to nearby places of interest may be planned.
Usually average temperatures in Germany during the summer time are about 20º C to 30º C; during the night it will get colder. It is possible that there may be three weeks of non-stop sunshine, but every day rain is not impossible either.
⚠️ Requirements
Motivation letter related to the project
and CV + photo required
Skype interview will be scheduled for selection.
-Passport
-EU-members should bring their European Health Insurance Card; those which have an individual travel insurance should bring the certificate
ℹ️ Additional information
Volunteers should bring:
-stable work boots, really appropriate for practical work
-appropriate clothes, waterproof coat
-mosquito protection lotion
-Dictionary
-typical recipes, sweets, music, instruments and games from the participants' home country for group activities
-More detailed information will be sent later on the infosheet
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
OH-H03
20/07/2020 → 01/08/2020
Volunteers registered
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ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–35 years old
Solidarity donation
50.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
09633 Halsbrücke-Krummenhennersdorf, Germany
Germany
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Central European Standard Time
Local time: 21:10 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
German