On August 24, 2019, the multimedia exhibition "Kaolin Adventure World" was opened in the visitor center of the Mügeln narrow-gauge railway station, which was once at the center of the largest narrow-gauge railway network in Germany. During a tour, the world of kaolin - the basic material for porcelain production - as well as the history and technology of the narrow-gauge railway can be explored in a vivid way.
Visitors are treated to a multimedia experience that begins with the formation of kaolin, continues with underground mining and today's open-cast mining, and ends with the emergence of the regional ceramics industry, and provides information on the history of the narrow-gauge railway around Mügeln station. In the basement of the building, photos tell stories from mining, display cases show exhibits from the world of miners underground, children have the opportunity to play interactive games, a seating area invites you to linger, and expert terminals offer further information. On the upper floor is the "Kaolin open-cast mine" with a panoramic view, 360° glasses, display boards, games of skill, a multi-touch table, and a cinema. A micro telescope shows the raw material kaolin in both small and large sizes. Visitors can move through the exhibition listening, playing, and marveling. Food and drinks are available in the geoportal's café.
The Geopark Porphyrland with the geoportal “Kaolin Adventure World”
Geoparks are areas that act like a window into the earth's history. Here, geological resources and peculiarities come to light that can be used to explain the relationships in the earth's interior and on the earth's surface particularly well. Geoparks spread knowledge about geophysics, geology (rocks and their storage in layers etc.) and mineralogy (structure of rocks). Geoportals are the visitor centers of the geopark "Porphyrland. Stone Kingdom in Saxony" (short form Geopark Porphyrland). They are also starting points for journeys of discovery in the surrounding area on specially designated georoutes or invite you to visit exhibitions and sights.
A failed attempt that led to great success
What is kaolin? Around 300 years ago, the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger had the firm intention of producing gold. The attempt failed. But under the leadership of the Electorate of Saxony councillor and natural scientist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, as his assistant, he helped to produce not real gold, but so-called white gold using the raw material kaolin. After years of experimentation, von Tschirnhaus succeeded in producing the first piece of white hard porcelain in his melting pot. In October 1708, shortly before his death, he made a porcelain cup. This laid the foundation for porcelain production. The region around Mügeln became known as the land of white earth and even today, more than 300 years later, kaolin is still mined there. Saxon porcelain and ceramic products are best-sellers all over the world.
The White Earth: Formation, Extraction and Transport
Around 290 million years ago, a super volcano erupted in the Geopark region. It left behind porphyry, which produced kaolin as a result of weathering. The process of weathering, known as kaolinization, was particularly intense from the Upper Cretaceous period (around 100 million years ago) until well into the Tertiary period (around 65 - 2 million years ago). The subtropical climate in the Tertiary period led to intensive chemical weathering of the Kemmlitz quartz porphyry. Alkalis, silica and iron oxides were dissolved and carried away, while water was absorbed. A white, clayey loose rock was formed, the kaolin. Weathering depressions with thicknesses of 10 to 40 meters were formed.
In northern Saxony, west of Mügeln, the Kemmlitz kaolin region is one of the centres of kaolin extraction in central Germany. The raw kaolin is extracted selectively on various mining levels using several electrically operated bucket wheel excavators and transported via a 3 km long overland conveyor system to the Gröppendorf slurry plant. From there, the kaolin suspension is pumped via a pipeline to the plant in Kemmlitz for further processing. Kemmlitz kaolin is particularly advantageous for fine ceramics due to its properties. It is considered the best ceramic kaolin in Germany for fine ceramic applications and is valued far beyond Europe. The raw material is used in particular for household ceramics, wall and floor tiles and sanitary ceramics..
The narrow-gauge line Mügeln - Döbeln, which opened in 1884, was extended in 1903 to transport the white gold. The kaolin was transported away via this expanded branch of today's Döllnitzbahn. Visitors can use the Döllnitzbahn as a tourist railway on part of the former route network between Oschatz - Mügeln - Glossen/Kemmlitz. The history and technology of the narrow-gauge railway can be experienced on a tour around the station. Anyone who wants to take a ride on the Döllnitzbahn can usually travel from Glossen to Oschatz and back again from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 15 p.m. Different timetables apply during the holidays. The Döllnitzbahn also offers special tours on the theme of spring, carnival or Advent.
experiences in the surrounding area
Those who like to travel by bike can also explore the Saxon “fruit country” on individual routes by bike. In the middle of Saxony’s largest fruit growing area lies the Obstland Route, which winds its way through the culturally and historically rich landscape. Over a total of 67 kilometers, it connects numerous places where the long tradition of fruit growing can be experienced in different ways.
Mügeln is a part of the Luther Trail of SaxonyThe Luther Trail Saxony is a circular hiking trail over 550 kilometers long. Its signage differs from classic pilgrimage routes because it is marked in both directions. It is therefore possible to start a tour through the varied landscape of the Leipzig region to the sites of the Reformation at any location. There are 31 Saxon stations along the route that can be used as starting or ending points.
Mügeln – Over 1000 Years of History
The origins of the town of Mügeln date back to the 10th century. The town was first mentioned in a document in 934 by the knights of the castle on the Festenberg near Baderitz, who exercised their office there as governors of the Margraves of Meissen. From here, Siegfried III of Mügeln founded the Sornzig monastery in 1241, which is now a popular tourist destination. For over 518 years until the Reformation, 35 bishops of Meissen ruled the moated castle near the Döllnitz, driving Mügeln forward and turning a simple manorial farm into a craftsmen's town. In 1381, Bishop Nicholas I had a mighty round tower built to strengthen his castle, the popularly known "Fat Tower", which still characterizes the image of the town today, together with the slender baroque tower of St. John's Church. Until 1977, the Altmügelner Stoppelmarkt was a well-known trading place, where craftsmen and traders supplied the population of the surrounding villages with everyday necessities.