Ore Mountains
The
Ore Mountains (
German Erzgebirge,
Czech Krušné hory) are a
mountain range in
Germany and the
Czech Republic. They form the border between both countries for 150 km, extending from the western border of
Saxony to the
Elbe river.
The western portions of the Ore Mountains have the highest peaks. The
Klínovec (1244 m) on the Czech side and the
Fichtelberg (1214 m) on the German side are the highest mountains of this range. In the west the Ore Mountains adjoin the much lower
Bavarian
Fichtelgebirge. In the east, the
Elbe Sandstone Mountains on both banks of the Elbe river may be regarded as the easternmost extension of the Ore Mountains. East of the Elbe, the mountain chain continues as the
Lusatian Mountains. The Ore Mountains slope gently away to the north, where the cities of
Zwickau and
Chemnitz are located on the foothills, but the southern incline is extremely steep.
The Ore Mountains were virtually unsettled during the
Middle Ages and covered with dense forests. In the 15th century the discovery of
silver and
tin deposits led to the settlement of the mountains and the foundation of cities. The name is derived from the richness in mineral resources. Segmented Erz-gebirge, the name takes Erz- from the Tuscan city
Arezzo, which produced such fine metal that its name became the German word for metal ore. Gebirge are "mountains." Today the mountains are also a popular winter sports resort.
The Ore Mountains are famous for many Christmas traditions. As the silver and tin deposits declined, former miners had to look for new ways to feed their families. In addition to
lace making and weaving, the inhabitants went into wood carving.
Nutcrackers, "smoking men", "pyramids" (carousels with figures of the Christmas story or from mining) and
Schwibbogen (wooden arcs with candles in the windows, symbolising the opening of a mine) are some of many Christmas goods made in the Ore Mountains.
Seiffen in the East Ore Mountains was a centre of the wooden toy industry.
