Barbarastollen

Barbarastollen is a mining museum at the University of Cologne featuring a 40-meter tunnel with original coal mining equipment from the Aachen region. The passage contains extraction tools, transport systems, and authentic devices that document how mining operations functioned underground.

The tunnel was constructed in 1932 as an educational facility and fell into obscurity after World War II. It was rediscovered during university building renovations in the 1980s and eventually opened as a museum.

The underground passage displays communication devices, hand-operated mining tools, and transport methods that show how coal miners worked below ground. Visitors can observe the daily routines and challenges these workers faced during their shifts.

The museum is located beneath the university's main building and requires advance booking to visit. All visitors receive safety helmets and should prepare for tight, damp conditions underground.

The tunnel features support beams made from softwood that produce warning sounds when pressure becomes excessive. This natural alert system helped miners recognize dangerous conditions before collapse threatened.