The Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Essen is one of the most impressive monuments of industrial culture - and vividly demonstrates how nature and culture are reclaiming the former industrial complex. Coal was mined here from 1851 to December 1986, a total of more than 240 million tons. Zeche Zollverein was once the largest coal mine in the world and is now a symbol of the transformation of the Ruhr region from a coal mining site to a cultural center.
The Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site includes the colliery site and the coking plant, which was once the largest in Europe. Between the bolides of steel and stone, a diverse plant world has developed, initially imperceptibly but now clearly visible: Native woods and exotic plants grow across former wasteland. The tension between the historical industrial backdrop and nature experiences creates a unique scenery.
