The History of Reith
Oil Shale Mining in the Karwendel
The oil shale mining in the upper Isar valley and in the neighboring Tyrolean communities of Scharnitz, Seefeld, and Reith has a long shared tradition. As early as the 14th century, local farmers were extracting stone oil. Itinerant traders, known as Dirscheler or oil carriers, traveled around with their goods to barter with the healing remedy.
Shale oil, slate oil or mountain oil – the common people know various names for the black, strongly asphalt-smelling oil – was considered a miracle remedy for both humans and animals that was indispensable in everyday use. Due to its high content of organically bound sulfur, it has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes the healing process in the joints and wound areas. This odor-intensive folk medicine was obtained by heating rock mixed with so-called bitumen. The extraction areas on the Bavarian side were located in the upper Isar Valley between Wallgau and Vorderriss. There, oil shale was mined in the Ölgraben mine until 1960. The owner was the Ichthyol Company Cordes, Hermanni & Co from Hamburg, which operated another mine very successfully in the area of Seefeld and Reith. Oil shale was also mined here until 1964 and further processed in the Maximilianshütte in Reith near Seefeld. Nowadays, the oil is imported from a plant belonging to the corporate group from France. However, the further processing still takes place in Tyrol, where the Ichthyol Company in Reith produces the base material for numerous pharmaceuticals.
Hardly anyone knows anymore that the profession of a miner or "knappen" secured the livelihood of several generations in the border region until the 1960s. The extraction of shale oil has positively influenced cultural and social development, and by the mid-19th century, a significant economic upswing could be observed in the vicinity of Seefeld. Although there have been no active miners since the 1960s, many families still have a historical connection to this profession. Therefore, the goal of an Interreg project was to scientifically and thoroughly process this shared history in order to preserve the cultural heritage for future generations.
The project was funded by the Interreg Austria-Bavaria 2014-2020 program with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Project start: 01.09.2019
Project end: 31.03.2022
Total financing costs: €25,000
INTERREG funding: 75%
Lead partner: Municipality of Reith near Seefeld,
Project partners: Municipalities of Wallgau, Krün, Mittenwald, Scharnitz, Seefeld, Tourism Association Region Seefeld, Alpenwelt Karwendel
The renowned Tyrolean geologist and mining scientist Peter Gstrein provided exciting insights into the former mining of shale oil in the western Karwendel.
For more information about the project, please find it here.
Hardly anyone knows anymore that the profession of a miner or "knappen" secured the livelihood of several generations in the border region until the 1960s. The extraction of shale oil has positively influenced cultural and social development, and by the mid-19th century, a significant economic upswing could be observed in the vicinity of Seefeld. Although there have been no active miners since the 1960s, many families still have a historical connection to this profession. Therefore, the goal of an Interreg project was to scientifically and thoroughly process this shared history in order to preserve the cultural heritage for future generations.
The project was funded by the Interreg Austria-Bavaria 2014-2020 program with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Project start: 01.09.2019
Project end: 31.03.2022
Total financing costs: €25,000
INTERREG funding: 75%
Lead partner: Municipality of Reith near Seefeld,
Project partners: Municipalities of Wallgau, Krün, Mittenwald, Scharnitz, Seefeld, Tourism Association Region Seefeld, Alpenwelt Karwendel
The renowned Tyrolean geologist and mining scientist Peter Gstrein provided exciting insights into the former mining of shale oil in the western Karwendel.
For more information about the project, please find it here.
Relevant to the topic:
The current exhibition at the Violin Making Museum in Mittenwald: "The Stone that Burns and Heals – Oil Shale Mining in the Karwendel Mountains."