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Guided Tour Ruhr 27 Zollverein stroll
How mining formed cities - microcosm Zollverein
Four of the five old shaft sites have been preserved along with the underground equipment, the central coking plant, the spoil tips, the transport sites and the colliers’ housing estates. In short the "Zollverein industrial mining complex" is a perfect example of the coalmining and coal processing industry in the 19th and 20th century and how it formed cities.
In 1847 the Ruhrort industrialist, Franz Haniel (1779-1868), purchased 13 adjoining coalfields next to Germany's first supraregional railway, sunk the first shaft and named the pit "Zollverein". After modernization and rationalization between 1928-1932 when the new central shaft site XII was erected Zollverein was not only Europe's largest pit but also known as "the most beautiful colliery in the world".
The coking plant west of Shaft XII was constructed between 1957 and 1961 in the same style ("Neue Sachlichkeit"). The geographical and architectural proximity to shaft XII also symbolised its functional proximity. Zollverein felt victim to the crisis in the coal and steel industries. On the 23rd of December 1986 the last shift was hauled to the surface after 135 years of mining operations. The last remaining colliery in Essen had closed for ever. The coking plant followed on the 30th of June 1993. An era had come to an end - and a new started.
Today Zollverein represents the Ruhr's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts more than 1 million visitors every year. The principal topic of our Zollverein mining complex tour is the connexion of railway, labour colonies, colliery and coking plant and how it formed the city.
Operator: TSR
Meeting-point: Railway station Katernberg-Süd or as requested
Length: about 90 minutes
Dates: none
Max. number of participants: 20 people
Price: English tours 150€; all the year round on request
Special note: Please wear convenient and weatherproof shoes/clothing.
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