The Zollverein colliery was an active coal mine in Essen from 1851 to 1986 and is now considered an important industrial monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shaft XII, which was in operation from 1932, was described as the 'most beautiful colliery in the world' due to its clear, functional architecture in the Bauhaus style. After its closure, the site became a symbol of structural change in the Ruhr region and is now home to museums, exhibitions, cultural events and creative businesses.
Read more
Read less