Exploring Europe's Highest Mine | Monteneve: History & Forgotten Tunnels

Explore with us the timeless charm of the Monteneve Mine (Schneeberg), located between the Ridanna and Passiria valleys in South Tyrol, Italy. With over eight centuries of documented history, Monteneve is recognized as Europe’s highest and most extensive permanent mining settlement. In this video, we trace the origins of this extraordinary deposit—first mentioned in 1237—and the epic saga of the miners who extracted lead, zinc, and silver for centuries. They braved extreme weather conditions, avalanches, and complete isolation during the harsh winter months. From ancient galleries carved by hand using hammers and chisels to the introduction of a revolutionary ore transport railway system in the 19th century, this is the story of a legendary site. The History of the Mine • Early Records & The Middle Ages (1237): The first official record dates back to 1237 in documents from the Counts of Tyrol. Initially, interest focused on silver extraction for minting local coins (such as the famous Merano Groschen). • The Golden Centuries & The Fuggers: Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the mine underwent massive expansion thanks to the Fuggers, the powerful banking and merchant family from Augsburg. They transformed Monteneve into one of the most profitable lead and silver mining hubs in the Alps. • The 19th Century Turning Point & Industrial Revolution: As silver veins depleted and the demand for zinc rose in the modern industrial era, a majestic engineering feat was realized: an outdoor transport system featuring rails and inclined planes spanning over 27 km, connected by hauling galleries up to 6 km long (such as the Poschhaus Gallery). • Extreme Life in the Village of San Martino (Sankt Martin): At over 2,300 meters above sea level, a fully self-sufficient village emerged featuring a church, school, hospital, and housing for over 1,000 miners and their families. Here, the community endured avalanches, polar temperatures, and up to 6 months of complete winter isolation each year. • The 20th Century & Closure: From the devastation of World War I to the transition to Italian management and the major fire in 1967 that destroyed much of the upper facilities, Monteneve continued production until its final closure in 1985. Today, the mine has been converted into the South Tyrol Mining Museum. Monteneve preserves a legacy of over 150 km of tunnels and dozens of historic structures, remaining an absolute masterpiece of industrial engineering. Enjoyed the video? If you liked this deep dive into history, don't forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe to the channel! Thank you so much for your support! Chapters: ⛏️ 00:00 Introduction 🔦 00:33 Step Inside the Mine 🏔️ 03:33 Outside the Mine 🏭 04:05 The Industrial Ore Processing Plant 🏛️ 06:30 The Mining Museum Music: Permafrost by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Memories of Stone by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... #Monteneve, #AbandonedMine, #SouthTyrol, #MiningHistory,