Coal mine of Hasard de Cheratte, Protected industrial mine in Cheratte, Belgium
Hasard de Cheratte is a former coal mine near Visé featuring four separate shaft systems with towers combining medieval and concrete architectural styles from different construction phases. The structures span roughly 130 years of mining history and show how industrial techniques evolved over time.
The first shaft opened in 1850 to extract bituminous coal and operated until 1877, after which the mine reopened in 1907 following a period of dormancy. Production continued steadily until final closure in 1977, giving the site roughly 100 years of active mining across two distinct operational periods.
The site developed as a company town from 1925 onward, where mining families occupied modern houses arranged organically across the landscape rather than in strict geometric patterns. Workers had access to gardens and facilities designed to support daily life near the pit.
The site underwent partial demolition and remediation work in 2017, with several structures now protected under Wallonian heritage preservation laws. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and focus on viewing the exterior buildings, as safety regulations restrict access to certain interior areas.
The facility housed Belgium's first advanced headframe system, incorporating extraction machinery inspired by Thomas Edison's designs and powered by direct current electric motors. This early electrification made it a pioneering installation for modern mining technology in the region.
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