The second grotto, opposite the Apollo’s Grotto, is called the “Mining.” Its decoration offers a view into a fictional ore mine. The grotto features polychrome stucco figures of miners who are being assisted in the mining of silver and precious stones by two dogs and a horse. In addition to the amethysts, other minerals such as opal, garnet, barite, and gypsum were also extensively incorporated into the decoration. The stones cover not only the walls but also the floor, so that the entire space looks like a real mine adit.
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Mining Grotto
The significance of the grotto remains unclear to this day
The meaning of the grotto remains unclear to this day. The primary interpretation refers to the need for precious metals, which were processed in the nearby Bishop’s Mint. At the same time, the decoration may relate to Bishop Karl von Liechtenstein-Castelcorn and his interest in alchemy. We know that the bishop maintained contacts with leading alchemists and even ran an alchemical laboratory. However, it can be assumed that the symbolic meaning of this grotto is far more complex and may be related to contemporary philosophical ideas and humanistic literature.
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Unique in Europe
Similar to the Apollo’s Grotto, this grotto was also designed to visually enchant. The fire from the torches created thousands of reflections of amethysts and other stones on the walls, giving visitors the feeling that they had really descended underground, where miners were extracting shining treasures. This theme is also completely unique in Europe, as we know of no other aristocratic residence with a grotto designed as a mine.
