Mining history
The heyday of the Prettau mine was 600 years ago, when the extraordinary malleability of Prettau copper was in great demand. The galleries, once driven inch by inch into the rock using only hand tools, are masterpieces of mining skill. Even in the 20th century, Prettau was the third largest copper supplier in Italy. Today, a railway leads into the heart of the mine. And into the Climate gallery, where the air is so pure, people can once more breathe freely.
