Erdölfeld Mönchsrot

Erdölfeld Mönchsrot is an oil extraction site near Rot an der Rot that operated roughly 18 pumping units to pull crude oil from deep underground layers near the Ellbach watercourse. Oil was moved through pipelines to processing facilities in surrounding areas for further distribution.

The oil field began in 1958 when two farmers discovered an oil source, which led to commercial extraction operations. Operations by the Wintershall AG company ended in 1995 when the field was closed.

This site reflects how industrial resource extraction shaped rural German communities during the modern era. Visitors can see evidence of how an ordinary landscape was transformed by economic activity tied to energy production.

The former extraction site is now accessible as a memorial with a restored deep pump at the town exit toward Ochsenhausen that was rebuilt in 2005. Visitors can see this landmark at a quiet location that documents the industrial past of the area.

The total volume of crude oil extracted from this site reached approximately 1.5 million tons during its operational years, reflecting its significance as a major resource supply. This substantial production shows how much raw material flowed out of the region over several decades of operation.