Zeche Prosper, Coal mine complex in Bottrop, Germany
Zeche Prosper is a hard coal mine in Bottrop with distinctive head frames, a Malakoff tower, and machine buildings spread across a large industrial site. The facility includes shafts, supporting operations, and numerous structures that together show how coal mining worked.
The mine was founded in 1856 when business families established the Arenberg Mining and Smelting Company, beginning coal extraction in this area. Over a hundred and fifty years, it grew into one of the Ruhr region's important coal mines before operations permanently ceased in 2018.
This mine represents the industrial past of the Ruhr region, where generations of miners worked underground and shaped the community. Today, the buildings and machines tell the story of this working era that defined life in the area for over a hundred years.
The site is open to visitors today, who can view the industrial buildings and head frames from outside. Sturdy shoes are recommended since the ground is uneven and some paths cross gravel areas.
The mine featured an innovative conveyor system running at a 21 percent incline that economically transported coal to the surface. This system significantly reduced truck traffic in Bottrop and showed practical engineering solutions for mining.
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