Koepchenwerk, Industrial power station in Herdecke, Germany
Koepchenwerk is an industrial monument on the shore of Lake Hengsteysee with a distinctive building displaying large lettering on its facade. The facility holds four original machine sets, pressure pipelines, and a valve house that demonstrate the complete structure of an early 20th-century power plant.
The plant was built between 1927 and 1930 as a hydroelectric facility and was named in 1931 after engineer Arthur Koepchen, who worked for the Rhenish-Westphalian Power Company. The site has since shaped the industrial history of the region and reflects how energy supply developed during that era.
The building shaped how this lakeside area developed and shows how industrial structures once fit into the landscape. Visitors can see how engineering and nature coexisted for decades in this location.
The site is accessible by foot from town and sits directly on the lake with good views of the water. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the path to the shore can be uneven and examining the technical installations requires some physical effort.
Next to the power plant sits a vineyard where local wine enthusiasts produce wine labeled 'Made in Herdecke'. This unusual mix of industrial machinery and grape growing shows how people in the area use the grounds for leisure activities.
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