Association excursion to Merkers Adventure Mine, 19 February 2022

With the best sunshine and mild temperatures, this year’s first association sortie led to a very historic, especially deep place, the potash mine Merkers.

The secret of the mine near Bad Langensalza came by chance, on the basis of a hint, in April 1945 to a US patrol and subsequently to the public.   A treasure lay at a depth of over 500m.  From February 1945, the Berlin Reichsbank had tons of gold, diamonds, bank notes and art treasures stored here, including paintings from the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin and the bust of Nefertiti, in secured rooms of the mine.

Our tour first led to Frauensee, in the restaurant “Zum Goldenen Stern”. For lunch we had already ordered the desired menus of the participants, that we were now served quickly and friendly. No matter what everyone ate, we loved the portions and the quality. Strengthened we went on to Merkers.

With miner Sven, responsible for our group, the tour began with putting on the helmets and a ride at  a depth of 500m.  We changed into a team car and in a rapid ride we went through the tunnel labyrinth, visited at various stops, among others.  that very informative museum and the former storage place of gold.  Very impressive were the huge concert hall and the crystal cave at the end of our tour.  Booked by the club, there was  a trunk  here for alle, with best wishes for the new year.  With Sven we had exactly the right guide, who explained everything comprehensibly with a lot of humor and expertise and always had an answer to the many questions ready.

In the late afternoon our excursion ended, with farewell and reference to the next upcoming dates and excursions. It was unanimous in a very successful day! 

Many thanks to the participants, the restaurant Zum Goldenen Stern and Sven, our miner !

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