The Zollverein colliery

Date: May 17, 2010
Time: 2.00 am – 6.00 pm
Meeting point: Info-Stand Essener Marketing Gesellschaft, Foyer CongressCenter West

“Is this the most beautiful colliery in the world” asked the English newspaper „The Independent“ after a visit to the Zollern Colliery in Dortmund (not to be confused with Zollverein in Essen!). Whoever would imagine that a colliery could be designed as a work-of-art with Jugendstil extras and a bejewelled staircase? A “mansion of labour” indeed. And now an on-site museum with a treasure trove of information on how miners were trained, their working conditions – the dangers to health, life and limb involved in coal dust and explosions – and leisure activities from rock ‘n roll to football. This was once known as a “model colliery”. The permanent exhibition complete with English texts and catalogue is also a model in its own right.
From here you will travel into the centre of the town to a huge old brewery known as the Dortmund U, because of the U symbol adorning the roof. It has now been transformed into a vibrant new arts centre containing the city’s Museum of Modern Art and facilities for artists working in the creative economy. From the top of the building there are spectacular views of the city.