Zeche Zollverein (coal mine)
A jewel in our industrial heritage
It was considered the most beautiful coal mine in the world. Its strong, clear shapes were well suited to the style of New Objectivity which at the end of the 1920s epitomised the architectural image of perfection. The 20 buildings are made of reddish brown brick and rust-red varnished steel and are symmetrically organised on two axes which cross forming a monumental forecourt. The building complex is dominated by the tall winding tower, the coal mine's most striking building. Today it stands as a symbol both for the coal mine's past as well as for the successful structural change which the whole region has undergone.
Like so many industrial areas, it too faced breakup when the Ruhr district was hit by crisis and mines and factories were being closed one after the other. However, it was granted listed building status in 1986 and was recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 2001. But unlike other industrial wastelands, the purpose of restoring the building was not primarily to preserve the cultural landscape, but rather much more to realise the concept of the future which the coal mine saw itself dedicated to. New concepts for use create open areas for new ideas.
Since the beginning of the 1990s the motto 'Art and Design at the Zollverein' has attracted to the restored buildings many institutions from the fields of art, culture, design and new media. Not only are the old buildings reoccupied, new ones are also being erected such as the Kubus for the Zollverein School of Management and Design.
It is not only from an economic point of view that the location is attractive, it is also worth seeing as a tourist. From year to year more tourists come wanting to see the most beautiful coal mine in the world at close quarters. They are also drawn by the fantastic exhibitions which can be held in many locations over the extensive area. Congresses and trade fairs take place in this location so steeped in history, a venue which imbues them with an extraordinary atmosphere. And the most beautiful day of your life, your wedding day, can also be celebrated here.
The Zollverein coal mine is worth a visit any time. Not far from Duisburg, it is another destination on the industrial heritage trail, just like Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord (Duisburg-North Country Park).
