Heilstollen Nordenau

Useful Information

Location:	Heilstollenweg 9, 57392 Schmallenberg-Nordenau. From Kassel B251 to Korbach, via Medebach and Winterberg to Schmallenberg. (51.1819861, 8.4319417)
Open:	All year daily 8-17:30. [2024]
Fee:	Adults EUR 7.50, SauerlandCard EUR 7, 10 Visits EUR 65, Children (0-13) frei. [2024]
Classification:	Slate Mine Speleotherapy
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	T=8 °C, H=100 %.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	SSC: Heilstollen Nordenau, Land- und Kurhotel Tommes, Heilstollenweg 9, 57392 Schmallenberg, Tel: +49-2975-96220. E-mail: 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

1866	beginning of slate mining.
1927	slate mine closed.
2007	bottling plant for Nordenau water put into operation.
2011	healing gallery opened.

Geology

During the Devonian period, fine sand and clay were transported by rivers into a calm sea trough and deposited there. The sediments, fine-grained sandstones and marls were folded during the Variscan orogeny (390-270 Ma), but also underwent a so-called metamorphosis due to high temperature and pressure. The result was slate, which is easy to split and also waterproof. It has a low limestone content, so it is quite resistant to acid rain,ideal for roofing.

Description

Heilstollen Nordenau (Nordenau Healing Gallery) is a mine gallery which is used as a healing gallery, i.e. for speleotherapy. Although Nordenau is a staatlich anerkannter Luftkurort (state-recognised climatic health resort), the healing gallery is privately run by the Landhotel Tommes, which is located directly at the entrance to the gallery. This makes it possible to combine a wellness stay at the hotel with a visit to the healing gallery. The concept is quite successful and the gallery has been open daily for years. The entrance fees are reasonable, but there is no guided tour and no information about mining. Nevertheless, the slate mine is well worth a visit and can be visited at any time without having to make a complicated booking. Visitors can move around the mine freely. The majority of visitors stay in the mine for long periods of time in order to make therapeutic use of the high humidity and low-pollutant air.

However, commerce has taken on an esoteric flavour here. The spring water in the mine is described as miraculous "reduced water", which acts as a "free radical scavenger" and binds metabolic waste products in the body. And these miraculous properties are said to be unique in Europe. There is talk of studies by a Japanese molecular biologist named Prof Sanetake Shirahata and all kinds of miraculous effects are postulated. The water is said to be exported in large quantities to Korea and Dubai. However, German health insurance actually covers part of the costs of speleotherapy for certain respiratory diseases. Whether it helps or not, it reduces the symptoms, at least subjectively.

This is one of many slate mines in the Rhenish Slate Mountains. As the name of the region suggests, there are many slate deposits here. The slate was mined underground in the "Brandholz" slate mine in order to extract slate that had not yet cracked due to frost weathering. The slate was primarily used for roofs, but also for wall panelling. Nowadays, slate is also used for flooring, cornices and table tops. Like many other traditional mining operations, slate mining became unprofitable at the beginning of the 20th century and was therefore discontinued.