Over 500 years ago, the small, charming town of Hall was declared a mint by the Habsburg Sigismund the Rich. The first taler was minted at Hasegg Castle/Mint Hall in 1486, from which the dollar later emerged. Many eventful centuries have passed since then and visitors to the Hall Mint and the Mint Tower can go in search of traces of this exciting past. Hasegg Castle / Hall Mint not only offers an interesting insight into the history of minting coins, but also surprises visitors with a wide variety of exhibitions on every level as they make the exciting ascent to the famous mint tower.
Around five special exhibitions are presented each year in the Knight's Rooms of the Hall Mint. The historic rooms, including the time-honored mint tower, provide the perfect setting for a wide range of contemporary art exhibitions.
The Hall Mint Museum fascinates its visitors with numerous details about the minting of coins and the powerful machines involved. The highlight of the museum is the replica of the first coin minting machine, which was considered a technical sensation in the Middle Ages and minted around 4,000 coins a day. Today, the colossal roller minting machine with a length of eight meters is located in exactly the same place where the machines were found in the 16th century. Using modern audio guides, Mint Master Franz leads visitors through the museum and tells them about the beginnings of the dollar, the secrets of important coins and powerful mint masters. The audio guides are available in seven languages, as well as a special exciting version for children. The creation and distribution of the Talerfilm is now being shown as a film documentary in the Museum of the Hall Mint.
Historic water wheels at Hasegg Castle
During excavation work, finds were uncovered which indicate that several such waterwheels once stood on this exact spot. These uncovered foundations revealed a well-preserved hydraulic drive system. The function of the water wheels played an important role in the minting of coins, as they set the roller minting machine in motion.
Mint Tower
The ascent to the legendary Münzerturm, Hall's landmark, is an unforgettable experience. Light and sound effects accompany visitors on their way to the top, where a breathtaking view over the town of Hall, the beautiful Inn Valley and the impressive backdrop of the Karwendel awaits them. After the exciting ascent to the tower lantern, further highlights surprise visitors on the descent. The small stair tower impresses with its unique three-flight staircase and as the home of the kestrels. One floor below are the rooms of the city archaeology department, which provides information on the history of Hall as well as everyday life in the Middle Ages. In addition to the exciting falcon area and the city archaeology, the largest silver thaler in the world can be admired in the Hall Mint. The famous European thaler is fascinating with a size of 36 cm and a weight of over 20 kg of pure silver.
To round off the tour, Burg Hasegg/Münze Hall offers the opportunity to mint a coin yourself.
