Eisenerz is a mining town in Styria, Austria. It is located in the deep Erzbach Valley, surrounded by mountains - the Pfaffenstein (6140 ft), the Kaiserschild (6830 ft) and the Erzberg (5030 ft).
The Erzberg, or Ore Mountain, has played an important role in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Eisenerz for many centuries. At the end of the 19th century, the Erzberg was quarried in the open air like stone in the summer months as it produced such rich ore. It provided employment for many people in the region, with two to three thousand people working the mines in summer and about half as many in winter. The mine produced approximately 800,000 tons of iron per annum at this time.
It has been discovered that the mines on Erzberg have been worked as far back as the 12th century, showing the importance of the ore to the sustenance of the people of Eisenerz.
The medieval fortified church with a Gothic tower was founded in the 13th century by Rudolph I, also known as Rudolph of Habsburg. The church was rebuilt in the 16th century.
Rudolph was the first Habsburg ruler to acquire the duchies of Austria and Styria, which would remain under Habsburg rule for more than 600 years. These duchies would eventually become the basis for the modern country of Austria.
Vintage photomechanical print of Eisenerz in Styria, Austria, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. The photograph shows the old mining town of Eisenerz, located in the Erzbach Valley surrounded by mountains, and features a medieval fortified church. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-09242).
Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this picturesque vintage photochrom of the town of Eisenerz in Styria, Austria.
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