Museum of Mining and Gothic Art Leogang

The late Middle Ages were a boom time for mining in the Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg, and especially in Leogang. Because of the mining riches, magnificent works of art could be commissioned, and they now rank among the world’s best Gothic art treasures. The museum presents these valuables in twenty shows over 1000 square meters of exhibition space, showcasing the archbishopric’s wealth.

Mary of Burgundy’s Prayer nut is a centerpiece in the collection. When traveling, Mary of Burgundy, once Europe’s richest lady, daughter of Charles the Bold and wife of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian of Austria, utilized this small sculpture inside a sphere of boxwood as a pocket shrine tied to her rosary. The prayer nut is the size of a walnut and splits apart to reveal two half of intricately carved reliefs. The prayer nut’s upper half depicts Maximilian of Austria with the archducal coronet and Mary of Burgundy. They worship on the knees of Saint George, the patron saint of the House of Habsburg. The lower part is occupied by Saint Catherine with her attribute, the sword, John the Evangelist with the chalice, and Saint Barbara with the tower. The prayer nut is portrayed on the cover of Mary of Burgundy’s Hours.

The museum received a Limoges enamel cross. It was manufactured in Limoges, in the south of France, using the first European enamel method about 1200. The cross was discovered to be looted art from the Polish noble family Czartoryski in partnership with the Bavarian National Museum, the Museum of Mining, and the Museum of Gothic Art Leogang. During WWII, it was transported to Salzburg. Of course, the cross was returned to its original owners without compensation.