The
Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is a large former industrial site in the city of
Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It has been inscribed into the UNESCO
list of World Heritage Sites since December 14, 2001, and is one of the anchor
points of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
The
first coal mine on the premises was founded in 1847, and mining activities
took place from 1851 until December 23, 1986.
Shaft
XII, built in the New Objectivity style, was opened in 1932 and is considered
an architectural and technical masterpiece, earning a reputation as the “most
beautiful coal mine in the world”.
The
Zollverein Coking Plant, built between 1957 and 1961 in the same architectural
style as Shaft XII, went into operation on September 12, 1961, and enabled
the complex to achieve superlative production capacities. Following expansion
in the 1970s, 10,000 tons of coal were “baked” into 8,600 tons of coke on the
“black side” in 304 ovens at 1,250 degrees Celsius every day. In peak
periods, the coking plant employed 1,000 people.
Today,
the industrial monument is a dynamic cultural location with museums dedicated
to industrial heritage and design as well as numerous leisure activities and
events. About 1.5 million worldwide guests visit the site every year to
experience the exceptional industrial architecture.
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| SHAFT XII ZOLVEREIN COAL MINE |
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