Wilhelm-Erbstollen

The Wilhelm-Erbstollen mining complex extends nearly 25 kilometers underground, featuring extensive tunnel networks for slate extraction in the Rhein-Lahn-Kreis region.

The site began operations in 1844 as a consolidation of 14 smaller mines, creating a unified system for water management, ventilation, and mineral extraction.

The mine earned recognition at the 1889 Paris World Fair with a gold medal for its exceptional slate quality, establishing Kaub as a center of Rhine slate production.

The underground structures currently serve the municipality of Kaub as a water supply source following the cessation of mining operations in 1972.

Mine workers transported slate plates on their backs through stepped shafts until 1913, when locomotive transportation replaced this manual method.

Location: Kaub

GPS coordinates: 50.08500,7.76690

Latest update: March 6, 2025 00:16