Cities & Culture

Terra Mineralia Freiberg

Terra Mineralia in Freiberg is considered to be one of the finest mineral museums in the whole world. The exhibition features a collection of minerals belonging to chemist and biologist Erika Pohl-Ströher, granddaughter of the founders of cosmetics company Wella.

Visitors are invited to come and learn about 3,500 minerals, gemstones and meteorites from five different continents in the historical setting of Freudenstein Castle. Terra Mineralia, a permanent exhibition belonging to Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, is home to precious finds from famous sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and America. The biggest and finest exhibits in the collection await in the Renaissance Vault, where there is a choice between two routes: Will it be a geological detour or travels with Gulliver?

Visitors also learn how minerals shape and impact upon our everyday lives and even technology and culture. Anyone who fancies becoming a scientist for a day can bring along minerals and identify them in the Science Centre. Terra Mineralia's scientific work carries on next door in a mineral deposit within the castle walls with a database full of samples from all around the world. Opening times: Monday to Friday: 10 am–5 pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 10 am–6 pm

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