Hessisches Braunkohle Bergbaumuseum Borken

Useful Information

photography — Bergbaumuseum Borken, Germany. Public Domain.

Location:	Besucherstollen: Am Amtsgericht 2-4, 34582 Borken Themenpark: Am Freilichtmuseum 1, 34582 Borken Gedenkstätte Stolzenbach: country road L3152 between Dillich and Stolzenbach. (51.045199, 9.284271)
Open:	Besucherstollen: Palm Sunday to OCT Tue-Sun 14-17. NOV to Palm Sunday Sun 11-17, last tour 15:30. Themenpark: Palm Sunday to OCT Tue-Sun 14-17. Gedenkstätte Stolzenbach: no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	Besucherstollen: Adults EUR 4, Children (13-16) EUR 3, Children (7-12) EUR 1.50, Children (0-6) free, Seniors EUR 3, Family (2+2) EUR 8. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 3.50, Children (13-16) EUR 2.50, Children (7-12) EUR 1.50. Themenpark: Adults EUR 4, Children (13-16) EUR 3, Children (7-12) EUR 1.50, Children (0-6) free, Seniors EUR 3, Family (2+2) EUR 8. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 3.50, Children (13-16) EUR 2.50, Children (7-12) EUR 1.50. Combi Ticket: Adults EUR 6.50, Children (13-16) EUR 5, Children (7-12) EUR 2.50, Children (0-6) free, Seniors EUR 5, Family (2+2) EUR 14. Groups (15+): Adults EUR 6, Children (13-16) EUR 4, Children (7-12) EUR 2.50. [2023]
Classification:	Lignite Mine Replica Underground Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Hans Bickell, Horst Schönhut (2002): Nordhessischer Braunkohlenbergbau – Die Grube Altenburg in Borken (Hessen) Hrsg.: Magistrat der Stadt Borken. Bernecker Mediengruppe, Melsungen 2002, ISBN 3-932739-11-6. Bernd Heßler (1992): Vom Ackerbürgerstädtchen zur Bergbau- und Kraftwerkstadt In: Magistrat der Stadt Borken (Hrsg.): 675 Jahre Stadt Borken. Riemann, Melsungen 1992, S. 8–9.
Address:	Hessisches Braunkohle Bergbaumuseum, Am Rathaus 7, 34582 Borken, Tel: +49-5682-808-271. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1578	Kohlebergbau erstmals dokumentiert.
1897	lignite is found during the construction of a well in Arnsbach.
1900	underground mining in the area of the later Gombeth open-cast mine.
1909	underground mining ends.
1922	construction of the Borken power station.
1923	beginning of lignite mining in Borken.
01-JUN-1988	mining accident at Stolzenbach.
1991	mining stopped.
17-OCT-1992	mining museum inaugurated.

Geology

The rich lignite deposits from the Eocene are part of the West Hessian depression. A succession of basins are separated from each other by shallow sills and ridges. In the northern part, individual basaltic knolls rise. Tertiary sediments with sand, gravel and clay layers contain rich lignite deposits in the area of Borken.

Description

The Hessisches Braunkohle Bergbaumuseum Borken (Hessian Lignite Mining Museum) is located in the oldest box work building of the city Borken near the town hall. It presents the 400 years of lignite mining history with documents, photographs, models, and mining tools. The museum has an artificial mine tunnel which shows the underground mining technology of the 1920s. The wooden support, the machinery and tools make the mine replica very realistic. And this illusion is even greater as visitors get helmets for their tour.

Hessian lignite mining dates back to the 16th century. The region around the Meißner is considered one of the oldest lignite mining areas in Germany. Mining was first documented in 1578. Other mining areas were located in the vicinity of Kassel, in the rural regions of northern Hesse and near Frankfurt. The museum explains the importance of lignite for industrialisation, the social situation of the miners, and the working methods with exhibits, photographs and documents. The exhibition includes a hunt (mine cart), numerous miner's lamps, surveying equipment and typical miners' garments. A workshop area and a washhouse with lockers and clothes hooks show everyday working life. Models explain opencast mines and power stations. The home of an industrial worker's family with a coal oven in the kitchen shows how coal was used.

Nearby a former mine plant is the location of the Themenpark "Kohle & Energie" (theme park coal and energy),which hows huge machinery used in the opencast mines. There are bucket-wheel and bucket-chain excavators, mine trains and turbines. The lignite was mainly mined to create electricity, so there is also a huge combustion chamber. The open air museum is more than 3 ha in size and has several hands on displays for children. The highlight is a bucket-wheel excavator which can be put into operation for visitors. It is also depicted in the logo of the Hessian Lignite Mining Museum. The topic lignite mining is completed by information on reclamation techniques at the Naturschutz-Informationszentrum Borkener See. The Borkener See (Borken lake) is a former open cast mine which is now filled with groundwater. The water is of high quality and very low in nutrients which makes it an important environment for rare plants and animals.

The mineral collection Mineralogische Sammlung Marianne Schrammel is located in the entrance building of the theme park. The exhibition mainly features regional minerals, fossils and petrified wood. The fossils were found during coal mining in various lignite mining areas. One section shows different kinds of gypsum crystals from the region. Another special feature are gold flakes from the Eder River. In addition to 3.5 billion-year-old rock from Western Australia, gemstones from all over the world are also on display. A light box demonstrates the colour diversity of agate slices.

The Gedenkstätte Stolzenbach (Stolzenbach memorial site) is dedicated to a mining accident which happened on 01-JUN-1988 in the Stolzenbach underground mine. Many miners died in this accident.