Tiroler Steinöl Vitalberg visitor centre

Discover the oil shale of Lake Achensee!

Is it possible to extract oil from rocks? The Achensee people know how. More precisely, the Albrecht family from Pertisau. The "Tiroler Steinöl Vitalberg" visitor centre gives you the opportunity to delve into the everyday lives of the shale oil miners and find out how Tiroler Steinöl® is mined.

It was Martin Albrecht senior who discovered shale oil. In 1902, the passionate mineral collector found the first oil shale at Lake Achensee. He excavated the mineshaft "Mariastollen", mined the oil shale by hand, heated the shale and for the first time extracted Tiroler Steinöl®.

To this day, not only Tiroleans but people from all over swear by the precious elixir, which is processed in skincare products and has soothing, nurturing and even healing effects. The "black gold" is also the star ingredient in wellness treatments at many hotels in the region.  

At the Tiroler Steinöl Vitalberg, which resembles a glass mountain, you can learn everything about the success story of the Albrecht family. The audio-visual tour begins in the Vitalberg shop. Inside the museum, original tools are on display, and a film lets you immerse yourself in the world of the shale oil distillers. The café on the upper floor is a popular meeting place for locals and visitors alike. Enjoy hot drinks and cakes in the afternoon, and in the evening round off your day with a cool drink at the bar under the starry sky. 

All parts of the Tiroler Steinöl Vitalberg are barrier-free and accessible with a wheelchair or stroller.