Urner Mineralienmuseum

The Uri Mineral Museum is one of the most unusual and fascinating mineral museums in Switzerland. It has been run by the Verein Urner Mineralienfreunde since 1982. The association organizes a large special exhibition every year. The winding rooms, deep vaults, different floor heights and rough quarry stone walls of the house form the ideal setting to exhibit crystals and other minerals from the alpine region. The mineral museum is housed in the former A Pro castle's economice building. The house served in the 16th century as a storehouse, bakery and drying house. It was restored in 1978/79 and placed under the protection of the canton of Uri and the Swiss Confederation. Like the castle A Pro, it has been owned by the canton of Uri since the middle of the 20th century.

Long tradition

The search for crystals - blasting - has a long tradition in Uri. Recent findings prove that already more than 8000 years ago crystals were mined in Uri. Whoever wants to extract minerals and crystals in Uri today needs a patent from the corporations of Uri or Ursern. Strict regulations apply to the blasting. For example, the use of mechanical aids and the use of explosives are generally not allowed. The mining is done with conventional tools.