It was a real stroke of luck that we were able to visit the fourth location on our 2020 summer vacation. The coal mine had been closed for ten years, and initial measures to develop the site had been underway for several years, which is why it was heavily patrolled by security guards who did not hesitate to rigorously report any unauthorized entry onto the site.
My cousin and his wife, whom we visited at the beginning of our vacation, have a very good network in the city, and we had already asked in advance if there was any possibility of visiting the coal mine and taking photos.
Unfortunately, all requests were denied. So, on our last morning, we set out to see another location.
Then the call came. My cousin said, “You can go there NOW!”
So we contacted our friend Lost Dreams who had also shown great interest in the coal mine and set off immediately.
About half an hour later, we were standing in front of the gate and were greeted by a lady from the development company. We had to sign a few documents to ensure that everything—including the publication of the photos afterwards—was in order.
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to visit the technical facilities because the halls had not yet been secured (the ceilings were starting to collapse) and therefore these areas had not yet been approved by the mining authority.
But just being able to explore this place (as far as we were allowed) at our leisure, without any stress or risk of getting caught, was a real experience for us.
First, we took a look at the washrooms and the dry house. There, the miners' clothes were placed in baskets attached to chains and hoisted up to the ceiling. The higher temperature under the roof allowed the mostly damp clothes to dry better.
The sheer size of the rooms and the hundreds of chains and baskets make these areas an experience in themselves. So we took our time before setting off to explore the adjacent areas. There we found mountings for the miners' pit lamps – unfortunately without the lamps themselves.
Finally, we had the opportunity to view the representative administration building with the payroll hall.
The architecture, size, and ornate decorations and windows reflect the prosperity that mining has brought to corporations and regions.
At the end of our exploration, we took a quick selfie and left this fantastic place with a wealth of wonderful impressions.
To find out more about the history and to check out all the photos from this place, click the button below.
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