UNESCO World Heritage Day Schwarzenberg — Herrenhof Erlahammer

UNESCO World Heritage Day — Nationwide Event

Since 2005, UNESCO World Heritage Day has been celebrated annually on the first Sunday in June at all German World Heritage sites. The aim is to highlight the cultural and natural significance of the World Heritage sites and make them accessible to visitors — often with free guided tours, special exhibitions, and activities that don't take place year-round. In 2026, World Heritage Day falls on June 7.

Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region — UNESCO World Heritage since 2019

The Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019 — a cross-border cultural landscape between Germany and the Czech Republic with 22 World Heritage components testifying to the region's over 800-year mining history. Schwarzenberg, with the Rothen Berg and the Herrenhof Erlahammer located within it, is one of these World Heritage components — a former iron hammer mill dating back to the 14th century.

Schneeberg as the Central Focus in 2026

For the 2026 UNESCO World Heritage Day, Schneeberg has been chosen as the central focus for the World Heritage celebrations in the mining region. Schwarzenberg will contribute in parallel with its own events centered around the Herrenhof Erlahammer. Connecting the individual World Heritage components into a joint day in May/June truly reveals the scale and diversity of the cross-border World Heritage site.

Herrenhof Erlahammer and the Manfred Blechschmidt Local History Room

The newly renovated Herrenhof Erlahammer in Schwarzenberg is the destination for local World Heritage activities in 2026. On the ground floor, the special exhibition "From the Oldest Iron Hammer to Modern Times" showcases the history of the iron hammer mill in the Roth Mining District: from medieval blacksmithing and industrial steel production to contemporary monument preservation. The exhibition is intentionally designed to be intergenerational and explicitly invites visitors to touch and interact with the exhibits. On the upper floor, the Manfred Blechschmidt Local History Room commemorates an important local poet from the Ore Mountains.

Guided Hike to the Rothen Berg

The highlight of World Heritage Day in Schwarzenberg is a guided hike starting at the Herrenhof Erlahammer, leading to the above-ground mining traces on the Rothen Berg: pits, heaps, adit entrances, old blacksmithing remnants. At the end of the hike, traditional miner's bread will be distributed — a nutritious rye bread that was once the standard provisions for miners. The hike traverses the UNESCO World Heritage site and offers a rare opportunity to explore with local mining experts.

Schwarzenberg — Town in the Western Ore Mountains

Schwarzenberg is located in the Western Ore Mountains in the Erzgebirgskreis district of Saxony. The town, with Schwarzenberg Castle, its baroque market square, and the old town on the slope of the Schlossberg hill, attracts day-trippers — especially in conjunction with the Rothen Berg World Heritage site, the neighboring Schwarzwasser valley, and the town's animal and plant park. Visitors arriving for World Heritage Day can easily combine it with a visit to the town center.