World Heritage Photos

The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen consists of the complete infrastructure of a historical coal mine. The Zollverein Coal Mine is situated in the Ruhr area, a major industrial region on the banks of the Ruhr and Rhine rivers in Germany. Zollverein was founded in 1847. The sinking of the first shaft started in 1847, the sinking of shaft 12 was in 1932. The winding tower of shaft 12 has become a well known symbol of Zeche Zollverein. Zollverein was closed down in 1986. Nowadays, the former Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is a place to gain insight into the mining history and the development of the industrial architecture. The buildings of Zollverein were designed in the Bauhaus style. Just like the Völklingen Ironworks, Zollverein is now an inspiring meeting point for art and design. The Court of Honour (German: Ehrenhof) is the former boiler house of Zollverein. Nowadays, the Ehrenhof of Zollverein houses the Red Dot Design Museum, the largest exhibition of contemporary design in the world. The coal washing plant is the largest building of Zollverein. It houses now the Visitor Centre. Visitors will reach the Visitor Centre by riding a 60 metres long orange escalator, designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. Zollverein is situated about 71 km north of the German town of Cologne. Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2001. World Heritage Art: Zeche Zollverein 

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   The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen consists of the complete infrastructure of a former coal mine. Zollverein was founded in 1847 and was the first underground coal mine in the region, immense amounts of coal were needed for the steel production in the German Ruhr Area. The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen became a UNESCO World Heritage.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The tall red brick chimneys of the coking plant, the Kokerei. Zollverein was once Europe's largest and most modern plant for hard coal mining and one of the largest and the most modern coal mining complexes in the world. Zollverein was was also an important example for the coal mine industry elsewhere in Europe.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, Essen: The modern escalator leading up to the former coal washing plant. The bright orange escalator was designed by the renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. After riding the sixty metres long escalator, leading up through a glass gangway, visitors will reach the Visitors Center of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The machinery of the coal washing plant, the largest building of Zeche Zollverein. Nowadays, the former coal washing plant became the Ruhr Museum. The museum accommodate the Zeche Zollverein Visitor Centre, exhibition rooms, the well-preserved industrial machinery presents the history of the coal mine and the Ruhr region.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: A coal wagon used in the coal mines to carry coal to ground level. The coal being extracted at Zollverein was mainly suitable for coking. The first cooking plant and coke ovens were built 1857, the plant was expanded over the years. The new cooking plant was built between 1957 and 1961, it was the largest coking plant in Europe.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: A coal chute. The entire industrial complex of Zeche Zollverein is preserved in its original state. The huge complex is located in the Ruhr Valley in Germany. During WWII, the industrial Ruhr region was an important target for strategic Allied bombing, but the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex was not damaged.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The buildings were designed in the style of the Bauhaus, red brick façades in a steel framework. The Ehrenhof, (Court of Honour) is the former boiler house of Zollverein. Today, the Ehrenhof houses the Red Dot Design Museum, the largest exhibition of contemporary design in the world. The Red Dot Design Award is granted annually.

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   The coking plant of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen was once the largest of its kind in Europe. The coking plant was closed in 1993. The canal in front of the former coking plant becomes a popular ice rink in winter. The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen is composed of the Zollverein Coal Mine and the Zollverein Coking Plant.

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   Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: A ride in the Zollverein ferris wheel offers nice views inside a coke oven. When the ferris wheel turns, the wagons slowly descent into the oven of the coking plant. The highest point of the ferris wheel offers amazing views over the immense Zollverein Coal Mine, an industrial complex on the outskirts of the German town of Essen.

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    Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex: Inside of a coke oven, a view from the deepest point of the Zollverein ferris wheel. Essen is a huge town in Germany and it used to be one of the largest coal centres in Germany. The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.

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    Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The coking plant of Zollverein viewed from the ferris wheel. After closing down in 1986, the coking plant of Zollverein was planned to be sold to China, but negotiations failed and plans were made to demolish Zeche Zollverein, but the State of North Rhine Westphalia bought the complex and declared it a heritage and exhibition centre.

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    Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The iconic winding tower of shaft 12, a true masterpiece of architecture and technique, it marks the entrance into the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex. The shaft was sunk in 1932 and was the most important shaft of Zollverein. Zollverein is considered the most beautiful coal mine in the world.

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    Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The winding tower of shaft 12 was built in the style of the Bauhaus, the shaft has become a well known symbol of the Ruhr region in Germany. The real name of shaft 12 is the Schacht Albert Vögler, it was named after the director general of the mining company. Zollverein was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2001. 

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    Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen: The buildings are connected to each other by a network of conveyor bridges, their total length is about 600 metres. The conveyor bridges are about 30 metres high. Nowadays, Zollverein is a cultural highlight in the Ruhr region. Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is situated in Essen, about 71 km north of the town of Cologne.