GRANATIUM Radenthein

Period

Description Destination

A wild, romantic gorge, a spectacular exhibition, a mystical tunnel with many surprises and a mining site where everyone can discover small, fine gemstones. The Granatium in Radenthein offers all this. The stone, which has been coveted for thousands of years, is at home here and protrudes from the rock in many corners.
Since 2022 there has been a new special exhibition "THE WORKS - then and now" - Here the history of the magnesite works in Radenthein and the development of the town is told. What is magnesite? How did the work influence urban development? What is produced at the RHI Magnesita plant? And you will find much more in the exhibition.
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In Radenthein the gemstones are located right next to the road. What sounds like a gross exaggeration is actually true. Here in the small Carinthian town in the Nockberge Biosphere Park not far from Lake Millstatt, just a few steps from the town centre, you will come across meter-long garnet veins in the rock. Of course, only experts can recognize this, because at first glance the garnet appears inconspicuous. It only achieves its full splendor and elegance through careful polishing. For years, garnet was mined here in the area around the Kaningbach and brought to Bohemian grinding mills for processing, from which it then left seductively sparkling as Bohemian garnet. In 1909, the tunnels at Laufenberg were closed and the Radenthein garnet industry fell silent. In May 2008 it celebrated an unusual and stylish renaissance: the Granatium in Radenthein opened its doors. A fascinating world of experience has been created around the “stone of love and passion”, as garnet has also been called.
Drop of Christ’s blood and beloved gemstone
It only takes a few minutes to walk from the center of Radenthein to the Granatium and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of garnet. You will learn interesting facts about the mineralogy of the coveted gemstone, its history and its many meanings as a piece of jewelry, as a remedy for all kinds of ailments and its mining. The many myths surrounding garnets are not proven but are certainly exciting. In the Middle Ages it was called the “carbuncle” and also the “drop of blood of Christ”, which was probably due to its deep red color. Of course, Granatium is also about mining the coveted gemstone. You can get a very realistic picture of this at the next stop in the adventure world. Because then you walk through the 300 m long tunnel. Mystical and mysterious.
Anyone can mine and grind in Granatium
The tour through the tunnel finally ends in daylight and leads directly to a station that is particularly attractive for young and old. Here at the mining site, you can knock the small, fine gemstones out of the rock yourself, work on them and then either grind them yourself or have them worked on by an expert until they sparkle and shine beautifully.
Afterwards, the encounter with the garnet is combined with an almost equally spectacular natural experience. The path goes gently uphill along the stream to the idyllic “Blauer Tumpf”. After a few minutes, the walk ends at a rest area with benches and an impressive view of the narrow gorge.
The Granatium is an unusual and fascinating excursion destination for young and old, for those interested in geology as well as for groups, clubs and families, for whom there are also attractive entrance prices and arrangements with guided tours. Mining together is an entertaining experience and the perfect complement to the diverse range of information available in the Granatium.

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phone: +43 424... show +43 4246 29135

Homepage: www.granatium.at