On the shores of Lake Achensee, the Tyrolean Shale Oil Museum is located in a unique glass building called Vitalberg
Image gallery: Tyrolean Shale Oil Museum
In 1902, Martin Albrecht senior discovered an oil shale with particular agents which come from prehistoric marine creatures and plants. These agents - together with the high content of naturally bound sulphur - make the Tyrolean Shale Oil an efficacious care product for humans and animals. It is used in cases of pains of the locomotor system and in rheumatic complaints. Still today, this special oil shale is mined in the Bächental Mine in the Karwendel Mountains, and processed.
100 years later, in 2002, the story of the Albrecht family and the work of the shale oil burners of the Bächental was opened to the public. The foundation stone of the Vitalberg (literally: Vital Mountain) was laid, a barrier-free glass pyramid which shall symbolise the mountain. The ground floor was coated with a limestone dry wall, the entrance on the north is designed like a gallery.
This Martin Gallery is the entrance to the Tyrolean Shale Oil Museum (Tiroler Steinöl Museum). It tells the story of the shale oil burner family Albrecht and the products - which can be purchased in the shop - with the aid of a modern audio system. The special kid's tour tells the legend of Thyrsus the Giant. In addition, on the first floor there's the Panorama Coffee Bar which offers a fantastic view on the surrounding alpine world during the day, and on the starry sky in the evening.
Contact info
- Tiroler Steinöl road 10 - 6213 - Pertisau am Achensee
- +43 5243 20186
- tiroler@vitalberg.at
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
€ 8.50 adults
€ 8.50 young people (16-18 years)
€ 7.00 groups (10 and more persons)
€ 4.30 children and young people (6-15 years)
free for children under 6 years
discount for students
discount for people with disabilities
discount with the guest card
discount with the Achensee Active Card
€ 11.00 guided tour for groups (with coffee and strudel)
More information
The Panorama Coffee Bar is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, the shop is open during the opening times of the museum from 9 am to 6 pm. Dogs are not allowed.
The Tyrolean Shale Oil Museum stays open from the 1st of May to November 5, 2023, break in spring (end of March to the end of April) and in autumn (early November to mid-December, except at the Advent weekends). Winter season start 2023 on December 15.