Lavakeller Mendig, Rock cellar in Mendig, Germany.
Lavakeller Mendig is an extensive network of underground tunnels and shafts beneath the town, created through basalt mining operations. The galleries lie approximately 32 meters (105 feet) below ground level and cover a significant subterranean area.
Black basalt extraction in these cellars stretches back to prehistoric times when early people first began quarrying the stone. Roman occupation of the region expanded these operations significantly, establishing organized quarrying methods that shaped the underground landscape.
The name comes from the basalt mining that took place here for centuries, as workers extracted black lava from underground. Later, breweries relied on these spaces to store their beer, making the cellars central to the region's brewing tradition.
Access to the underground spaces is possible either by descending 150 steps or using an elevator. Guided tours provide explanations about the mining past and how these cellars were used by breweries.
The temperature inside these underground spaces stays constant between 2 and 7 degrees Celsius throughout the year. This natural cooling made the cellars ideal for preserving beer without any need for artificial refrigeration systems.
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