Düppenweiler Schmelzertag
Living mining history at the foot of the Litermont — Copper smelting using 18th-century methods
About Schmelzertag Düppenweiler
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Schmelzertag Düppenweiler al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Industrial Culture at the Litermont
The Historic Copper Mine Düppenweiler at the foot of the Litermont mountain in the Beckingen district of Düppenweiler is an industrial monument of supra-regional importance. Copper ore was mined here from the 16th century onwards and smelted on-site — a pioneering achievement in pre-industrial metal processing in the Saar-Mosel region. Today, the facility is a museum and one of the few places in Germany where the complete 18th-century copper smelting chain is preserved in working order.
Ascension Day = Schmelzertag
Once a year — on Ascension Day — the mine fires up its facility. The day is called Düppenweiler Schmelzertag, and on this day, the focus is not on theoretical museum explanations but on the actually functioning smelter. The complete facility, including the crushing mill, bellows, and all three smelting furnaces, as well as the refining furnace, is put into operation.
From Ore to Copper Casting
Visitors can experience the complete smelting process using 18th-century methods:
- Ore Washing — the raw ore is rinsed and cleaned
- Crushing Mill (Ore Crushing) — water-powered stamps crush the rock
- Roasting — the ore is roasted over an open flame
- Smelting in the Small Blast Furnace — copper is extracted from the ore at around 1,200 °C
- Refining Furnace — the raw copper is refined
- Casting — molten copper is poured into molds
More Than Smelting: Mystallica and Hands-On Program
In parallel with the smelting, the mine opens its tunnels for guided tours — including the atmospheric Mystallica light and sound installation, which transforms the underground tour into a theatrical experience. On the surface, a varied accompanying program takes place: blacksmiths in action, traditional craft demonstrations, gold panning for children, a farmers' market with regional products, children's play activities, and catering.
Community Engagement
The Schmelzertag is organized by the Friends of the Historic Copper Mine Düppenweiler and the municipality of Beckingen. Without the voluntary commitment of the smelters, supervisors, and helpers, the facility would have long since become history. Those who visit the day directly support the preservation of the industrial monument.
Schmelzertag Düppenweiler — edition 2026
The municipality of Beckingen and the Friends of the Historic Copper Mine confirm the Schmelzertag 2026 for Thursday, May 14, 2026 (Ascension Day). As in previous years, all three smelting furnaces, the crushing mill, and the refining furnace will be put into operation to demonstrate the complete 18th-century copper smelting chain.
In parallel with the smelting, guided tours will take place in the tunnels, complemented by the Mystallica light and sound installation. In the outdoor area, blacksmiths, gold panning stations for children, and farmers' market stalls will be active.
Programme Schmelzertag Düppenweiler 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026 — Ascension Day
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the mine and festival grounds
- 10:30 AM — First Tunnel Tour with Mystallica installation
- 11:00 AM — Firing up the Smelting Facility — ore washing and crushing mill in action
- 12:00 PM — First smelting demonstration in the small blast furnace
- 1:00 PM — Blacksmiths in action: traditional blacksmithing
- 2:00 PM — Gold panning for children and farmers' market open
- 2:30 PM — Second smelting demonstration with copper casting
- 3:30 PM — Tunnel tour
- 4:00 PM — Refining Furnace Demonstration: refining the raw copper
- 5:00 PM — Copper casting into molds — the molten pieces are poured into sand molds
- 5:30 PM — Last tunnel tour
- 6:00 PM — End of festival
Detailed program and exact demonstration times will be published in April 2026 on kupferbergwerk.saarland.
Highlights Schmelzertag Düppenweiler 2026
- Functional 18th-century smelting facility in operation
- Live demonstrations: ore washing, crushing mill, three smelting furnaces, refining furnace, copper casting
- Tunnel tours with Mystallica light and sound installation
- Blacksmiths in action and traditional craft demonstrations
- Gold panning stations for children
- Farmers' market with regional products
Prices Schmelzertag Düppenweiler 2026
Admission for adults approx. €5–€8, children under 14 free. Included in admission: mine tour and smelting facility. Food and drinks at fixed prices.
Practical information — Schmelzertag Düppenweiler
Getting There
Düppenweiler is a district of the municipality of Beckingen, about 30 km northwest of Saarbrücken. By car via the A8 (exit Beckingen-Mitte), then L141 towards Düppenweiler. By public transport from Saarlouis or Beckingen with bus 460 (Saarland tariff).
Admission
Admission to the Schmelzertag is typically €5–€8 per adult (free for children under 14). Included in the admission are access to the mine tunnels with the Mystallica installation and a visit to the smelting facility.
Opening Hours
On Ascension Day, typically 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Smelting demonstrations several times a day.
Accommodation
Hotels in Beckingen, Merzig, Saarlouis, and at the Saarschleife.
Tip
Wear sturdy shoes (tunnels, smelting area) and bring a light jacket — it is consistently cool in the tunnels.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Schmelzertag Düppenweiler al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Schmelzertag Düppenweiler
Historisches Kupferbergwerk Düppenweiler
Historisches Kupferbergwerk Düppenweiler, 66701 Beckingen