Zollern II/IV Colliery, Art Nouveau industrial monument in Dortmund-Bövinghausen, Germany.
Zollern II/IV Colliery is a former coal mine in Dortmund-Bövinghausen with red brick buildings, decorated gables and architecture reminiscent of aristocratic residences. The site combines functional mining structures with Art Nouveau elements visible in the facades and portals.
The coal mine was built between 1898 and 1904 under the direction of Emil Kirdorf during the region's industrial peak. Operations ended in 1966 when regional mining declined and many sites closed.
The machine hall with its glass and steel Art Nouveau portal became Germany's first protected industrial monument in 1969. This decision changed how mining sites were valued and established technical buildings as cultural heritage worth preserving.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and offers guided tours and access to original machinery. Paths through the site are mostly accessible, though some narrow areas require sure footing.
The site houses the headquarters of the Westphalian Industrial Museum and displays original miners' facilities such as changing rooms and washing areas. An underground walkthrough called Montanium simulates conditions in the tunnels and conveys the working world below ground.
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