Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany
Evelyn's Hometown
A 'Wee' Bit of History
The Legend of Daniel Knabbe
According to a legend, a man called Daniel Knabbe dreamt one night that a treasure was hidden beneath certain tree on the Schreckenberg (one of the hills near Annaberg). In his dream, an angel showed him the exact location of the treasure. The next day, so it is said, Daniel Knabbe went to the designated place and found silver there.
The Foundation of Annaberg and Buchholz
After silver was discovered in the Erzgebirge, more and more people moved to the region and already 5 years later, in 1496, Annaberg was founded. The image to the left, the so-called Bergaltar ('Mountain Altar', displayed in the St. Annenkirche) shows different work processes related to silver mining at the time. Buchholz was declared a township at the beginning of the 16th century. Only after the Second World War, the two towns were unified. Until today, there is a friendly, but persisting competition between these two parts.
Annaberg Today
Today, there is no mining anymore in Annaberg. The only mine which is still open is part of a museum. In the years since the German reunification, Annaberg has undergone a considerable amount of changes. The facades of most of the houses have been renewed, museums opened, the Barbara-Uthmann-Denkmal was rebuilt, but also many citizens lost their jobs and many of them have left the town to find employment in former West Germany.