Serpentine Town – the world´s only deposit of the green serpentine gem stone. The market municipality of Bernstein lies at an altitude of 619m at the foot of the Bernstein mountain range. It got its name from the Bernsteinstraße street, a side road of which was known as "VIA MAGNA" in the Middle Ages. In 1860 Mr. Höfer and the priest Ratz discovered that within the common serpentine the green serpentine gem stone is enclosed. Up to today this green stone is used for making jewellery and ornaments. It can be admired in several serpentine gem stone workshops. In the rock museum of the Potsch family visitors learn about the extraction and the shaping of the green stone. Not to forget about the beautiful Burg Bernstein castle. It´s Burgenland´s highest-lying castles and proudly looks down on the village. At the moment it is in the possession of the Berger family. Marked hiking trails, a nature trail, a newly built natural swimming pool, tennis courts and a lot more facilities for relaxation and recreation are available.
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