Eight men and a forgotten mountain
Since 1997 a group from Villanders has been bringing the old mine back from oblivion — voluntarily, tonne by tonne. Today the Villanders Culture and Museum Association runs the show mine, the museum and the Rotlahn cultural centre.
From the log cabin to the museum
A chronicle since 1997In 1997 eight mostly young men from Villanders founded the association. They had already scouted old adits on the Pfunderer Berg and the Seeberg — the aim: to make the mining area known and to open one or two adits to visitors. In the first fifteen years alone some 60,000 hours of voluntary work came together, and tonnes of deposited material were carried out of the adits.
Eight mates and one aim
Foundation of the Rotlahn-Pfundererberg-Seeberg association — today the Villanders Culture and Museum Association.
The first base
The association is given a log cabin and sets it on a masonry base — the basis for the work and for guided tours.
The first guided tours
Guided tours begin in the St Elisabeth adit. By 2006 the St Lorenz adit is also made accessible and linked to the St Elisabeth adit by more than 300 steps.
Room for visitors
Changing rooms and sanitary facilities are built.
Around Rotlahn
Archaeological surveys in the mining area, two circular trails and better access paths.
Two more floors
Extension of the premises with museum and catering.
Board: Karl Gruber (president) · Josef Mulser (vice-president) · Markus Gasser (secretary) · Christof Gruber (treasurer)
Members according to the old website: Anranter Konrad, Baumgartner Walter, Brunner Stefan, Erlacher Pastori Marianne, Gasser Christian, Gasser Engelbert, Gasser Hans Peter, Gasser Konrad, Gasser Markus, Gasser Thomas, Gruber Christof, Gruber Karl, Gruber Klaus, Gruber Martha, Gruber Maya, Gruber Nina, Gruber Otto, Gafriller Peter, Gianluca Cotza, Höller Christoph, Huber Albin, Huber Walter, Johannes Unterhauser, Krapf Helmut, Kusstatscher Sepp, Mayrhofer Andreas, Mulser Josef, Nicola Carmignola, Niederstätter Josef, Pfeifer Evi, Rabensteiner Rupert, Senn Konrad, Senn Thomas, Torggler Thomas, Webhofer Ernst — to be checked with the association.
What we stand for
Mission statementA small but fine private museum in South Tyrol’s museum landscape — and a centre of expertise for mining and its history.
Ambassadors of culture
We work with visitors in mind and connect history with the future.
Collecting follows qualitative criteria: objects of regional significance, documented for the generations to come.
Collecting, preserving, communicating
The classic museum tasks, carried out according to ICOM guidelines.
An educational institution that makes culture tangible and awakens interest.
Locals and guests
Children, families, school groups and visitors to the region.
Wherever possible we work towards barrier-free access.
Mindfully and voluntarily
Mindfulness applies internally as well as towards our guests; the volunteers support one another.
We communicate in German, Italian and English.
Connected across the region
The Cultural Department, the South Tyrolean Museum Association, other museums and institutions.
Close ties with the provincial administration and the municipality of Villanders.
On three legs
Admission fees, private sponsors and public funds.
Complemented by entrepreneurial thinking and additional financial resources.
Become a member
The association lives on taking partWould you like to join the Villanders Culture and Museum Association? Anyone who works for the association can become a member — and at present ten guides lead visitors through the mountain. Write to us, and we will invite you to become part of the project.
Become a memberThe statutes and the registration form are still on the old website and will be carried over with the move — as will the guides page with its own photos.
Thank you
Partners and supporters
Salewa 
Alupress 
Mastertent 
Municipality of Villanders
Transparency of contributions
Law 124/2017As an association that receives public contributions, we publish every year which funds came from which public body.
The reports 2019–2022 are available as PDFs on bergwerk.it and will be carried over with the move.