www.gosaunet.at - The grindstone quarry in Gosau

For the past four centuries until 1969, the grindstone quarries in Gosau were an important source of income for the local residents.

Today, the quarries including the surrounding Löckermoor are part of the World Heritage and Culture Area of Hallstatt-Dachstein. The quarries are located at 1350 Metres above sea level at the southeast part of the Gosau Valley. Hiking trails lead up from the valley in about 1,5 hours to the quarries including a small mountain hut settlement. During the summer months, it is also possible to go up to the quarries with a special mountain tractor for large groups. There is also a guided tour not only filled with geological facts but also giving one a historic insight into the harsh work and typical food of the quarry laborers. The guided tour is offered once a week.

Fine stone signs, tiles for heating ovens, decorative bowls and containers and sculptures are manufactured and available for purchase. For further information, please contact Wallner Manfred.
Manfred Wallner Tel. 06136/8310, E-mail: wallner.manfred1(at)utanet.at

Der Straf-Sepp (short for Josef) grandfather of Martin Wallner.
He worked for 50 years extracting grindstones from the quarry.
During his time, a 1.800 kilogramm stone was extracted. 74 years later, in 1997, a 5.600 Kilogramm stone was extracted and finished for a wrought-iron manufacturer in Tirol.

A new company for the stone quarry workers was founded in 1989. The miners worked part time extracting stones from the quarry. The tools used before 1950 were not as efficient as the specially designed drilling machine that is used today. After the stone of about 50 Kilos is extracted, it is transported to a special saw where the stone is sliced into large slabs .The production is mostly small grindstones for small machines.

The grindstone quarry in Gosau

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