Posts tagged ‘Industrial Heritage’
Dissappointed at German Mining Museum
Today we went to the German Mining Museum (english page of Deutsche Bergbaumuseum) in Bochum with my parents-in law – finally. I was told that they offer an English tour. Well, it’s not an audio guide. At several place in the replica mine, they installed recordings in German and English language that explain the exhibition. Here is a picture one of the machines:
information box - German and English
Well, the whole thing wasn’t very satisfying. There are two problems: The information boxes seems to be the only English language offer. There are only a few boxes and the texts are two long. It would be nicer to offer shorter – more condensed – text at more places. The exhibition halls outside the replica mine lack English language at all. When I think of the developing metropolis and being European Capital of Culture, I expect an English audio tour for the museum.
During the week, the museum offers a lot of guided tour – not on the week-end. Therefore, I think the information boxes are not really necessary for German visitors and the museum doesn’t need a German audio guide. But they should add something in English.
For now, if you want to visit the mining museum with an English language group you have to book an English tour guide. Else you’ll should go there with someone who knows about mining or did the German tour. This person can add and explain additional things to the English vistors – as well as translating German explainations. Helpful might be to go through the English website of the Bergbaumiseum. In Museum->Replica Mine you’ll find pictures of several items and English descriptions.
Anyway, I learnd and refreshed English vocabulary on mining terms.
Zollverein World Heritage Site
The picture on the front cover, title and the first paragraph clearly define what this book is about: the history of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen.
The Zollverein colliery and coking plant in Essen is a unique architectural monument and a testimony to mining history in the 19th and 20th century. At the same time it is now a new venue for art, culture, design, education, research and tourism. The Zollverein mining complex (comprising shaft site 12, shaft site 1/2/8 and the coking plant) was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001. Is is one of three industrial World Heritage sites in Germany and one of only 41 technical and industrial history World Heritage sites throughout the world.
This article is not about the Zollverein World Heritage Site. It is about a book with this title which gives a tour through the history of this historical industrial site which is part of the regional Route of Industrial Heritage (Route der Industriekultur) and the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH). The special thing about this book is, that it is bilingual. On the left of each page you’ll find German language and the other half shows the English translation. Maybe it is a gift for people who are learning German?
I cannot recommend this book for people who just look for a short summary about what Zollverein actually is. It shows the history of coal mining, especially of coal mining in Ruhr and at Zollverein with its connected coking plant. It doesn’t deal with the industrial heritage of Ruhr in general but it focusses one of its most important relicts. I recommend this book if you want to compare living in Ruhr yesterday and nowadays.
The development of Zollverein since the pit was closed down in 1986 and the coking plant in 1993 is a prime example of the structural transformation of the Ruhrgebiet. Just as the pit and coking plant reflect the development phases of the golden age of industrialisation, the transforamation of the industrial complex to a venue of arts, culture, the creative economy and research is a model for the radical economic and commercial upturn in the region.
The book is published by Klartext Verlag, Essen for the price of € 17.90.
Welterbe Zollverein World Heritage Site, published by the Zollverein Foundation in cooperation with the Foundation for the Preservation of Industrial Monuments and Historical Culture, bilingual: German & English language, Klartext Verlag. Essen 2008, ISBN 978-3-89861-8441
The Emscher Landscape Park
‘The Emscher Landscape Park – Welcome to the Central Park of Metropolis Ruhr” is the title of an English brochure by the Ruhr region association (Regionalverband Ruhr, RVR) in Essen. The park lies along the river Emscher. Due to industrialization the Emscher was more or less an open sewer but ongoing natural restoration transformed it into an area of leisure and recreation. The park itself is recognized as a successful project of industrial transformation.
This A4 brochure contains some pictures which give an impression of the Emscher Landscape Park and a map. It gives hints for further brochures about places in the park, e.g. for Haus Ripshorst and the industrial heritage route.
The brochure is available for free via the RVR shop.
Recent Comments