Schacht Lerche

Schacht Lerche is a mining shaft in the Ruhr region that extends 1,400 meters deep underground with a diameter of 8 meters. The facility includes three circulatory systems and Europe's largest cooling installation to manage the heat at these depths.

This shaft began construction in 1971 as Schacht 7 of Zeche Königsborn and reached the coal layer in 1972 at a depth of 452 meters. The operation continued as part of the region's active coal mining until the facility eventually closed.

This shaft is part of the Route of Industrial Heritage and shows the coal mining legacy of North Rhine-Westphalia through its preserved structures. Visitors can understand the importance of coal mining to the region by seeing this site firsthand.

This site is accessible through the Route of Industrial Heritage and offers visitors a clear view of a modern coal mine's technical infrastructure. Plan your visit to see both the surface structures and understand the scale of underground operations below.

The 136-ton headframe was transported 35 kilometers from the closed Schacht Romberg mine in Werne to this location in 2001. This makes the structure a remarkable example of salvaging and relocating coal mining equipment.