Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex

Essen, Germany

The Zollverein industrial complex, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of the complete infrastructure of a historical coal-mining site, with some 20th-century buildings of outstanding architectural merit. It constitutes remarkable material evidence of the evolution and decline of an essential industry over the past 150 years.

The Zollverein is an important example of a European primary industry of great economic significance in the 19th and 20th centuries. It consists of the complete installations of a historical coal-mining site: the pits, coking plants, railway lines, pit heaps, miner’s housing and consumer and welfare facilities. The mine is especially noteworthy of the high architectural quality of its buildings of the Modern Movement.

Zollverein XII was created at the end of a phase of political and economic upheaval and change in Germany, which was represented aesthetically in the transition from Expressionism to Cubism and Functionalism. At the same time, Zollverein XII embodies this short economic boom between the two World Wars, which has gone down in history as the 'Roaring Twenties'. Zollverein is also, and by no means least, a monument of industrial history reflecting an era, in which, for the first time, globalisation and the worldwide interdependence of economic factors played a vital part.

The architects Fritz Schupp and Martin Kemmer developed Zollverein XII in the graphic language of the Bauhaus as a group of buildings which combined form and function in a masterly way. 

References:

Comments

Your name

Website (optional)


Address

Arendahls Wiese 176, Essen, Germany
See all sites in Essen

Details

Founded: 1847
Category: Industrial sites in Germany
Historical period: German Confederation (Germany)

More Information

www.zollverein.de
en.wikipedia.org
whc.unesco.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Essen Minster (4,3 km)


Schlossturm (34,7 km)
Broich Castle (13,7 km)
St. Lambertus Church (34,6 km)
St. Andreas Church (34,6 km)
Marienkirche (29,6 km)
Reinoldikirche (29,6 km)
Burg Castle (39,9 km)
Nordkirchen Palace (43,4 km)
Schloss Benrath (38,5 km)

User Reviews

Susanna Borciani (6 months ago)
An old and dismissed mining platform recycled as a cultural and artistic centre of aggregation. The landscape is very peculiar and makes it the perfect location for some industrial photos. The Nature is growing through it and creates an even more spectacular atmosphere. It is also part of UNESCO Heritage. Very recommended.
Balázs Solymossy (6 months ago)
The Zollverein is a huge historical "attraction" over a 1 km2 area. It is inhabited with art installations (Red dot design museum, for example), restaurants and if course industry. It is worth to spend a longer time here and participate on the guided tours.
Mathijs Beaujean (7 months ago)
Beautiful architecture, and both the Ruhr Museum and the Red Dot Museum were excellent. Signs to find your way around might be a tad better.
el cazador Economista (7 months ago)
If you are interested in History visit this place. Interesting insights about industry, life and culture of former times. Straight in the Ruhrpott.
Rainar Rye (8 months ago)
What a place! The buildings are a great example of form meets function. The Ruhr Museum is overwhelming so be sure to allocate more than 2 hours! Do a guided tour as this gives access to the interior of the plant.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Best of Middle Rhine Valley, Germany
Photo from Flickr, copyright YLegrand

Historic Site of the week

Château de Chaumont

The Château de Chaumont was founded in the 10th century by Odo I, Count of Blois. The purpose was to protect his lands from attacks from his feudal rivals, Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou. On his behalf the Norman Gelduin received it, improved it and held it as his own. His great-niece Denise de Fougère, having married Sulpice d'Amboise, passed the château into the Amboise family for five centuries.

Pierre d'Amboise unsuccessfully rebelled against King Louis XI and his property was confiscated, and the castle was dismantled on royal order in 1465. It was later rebuilt by Charles I d'Amboise from 1465–1475 and then finished by his son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont from 1498–1510, with help from his uncle, Cardinal Georges d'Amboise; some Renaissance features were to be seen in buildings that retained their overall medieval appearance. The château was acquired by Catherine de Medici in 1550. There she entertained numerous astrologers, among them Nostradamus. When her husband, Henry II, died in 1559 she forced his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, to exchange Château de Chaumont for Château de Chenonceau which Henry had given to de Poitiers. Diane de Poitiers only lived at Chaumont for a short while.

Later Chaumont has changed hands several times. Paul de Beauvilliers bought the château in 1699, modernized some of its interiors and decorated it with sufficient grandeur to house the duc d'Anjou on his way to become king of Spain in 1700. Monsieur Bertin demolished the north wing to open the house towards the river view in the modern fashion.

In 1750, Jacques-Donatien Le Ray purchased the castle as a country home where he established a glassmaking and pottery factory. He was considered the French "Father of the American Revolution" because he loved America. However, in 1789, the new French Revolutionary Government seized Le Ray's assets, including his beloved Château de Chaumont.

The castle has been classified as a Monument historique since 1840 by the French Ministry of Culture. The Château de Chaumont is currently a museum and every year hosts a Garden Festival from April to October where contemporary garden designers display their work in an English-style garden.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2019 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.