Erlebnisbergwerk Nuttlar

Useful Information

Location:	Briloner Straße 48a, 59909 Bestwig. (51.3670460, 8.4310454)
Open:	Schnuppertour: FEB to DEC, 1 Sat every month 14. Diving: APR to NOV Sat, Sun 9–18. Reservation mandatory. [2026]
Fee:	Schnuppertour: Adults EUR 25, Children (0-12) EUR 22. Tauchen: All Day Cave Divers EUR 69, Schnuppertauchen EUR 69. [2026]
Classification:	Slate Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	Schnuppertour: D=3 h, Max=16. Schnuppertauchen: D=45 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Schieferbau Nuttlar, Das Erlebnisbergwerk, Briloner Straße 48a, 59909 Bestwig, Tel: +49-170-2857601. 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

1878	Excavation of the first tunnel.
1985	End of mining.
2023	show mine closed.
2026	Erlebnisbergwerk reopened.

Geology

The shales date from the Devonian period; layers ranging from 3 m to 10 m in thickness alternate with layers of limestone. However, there are also shale seams up to 30 m thick.

Description

The Erlebnisbergwerk Nuttlar (Nuttlar Adventure Mine) is known as the Schieferbau Nuttlar< (Nuttlar Slate Quarry) or the Schieferbergwerk Nuttlar (Nuttlar Slate Mine). On the website, however, it is referred to as Schieferbau Nuttlar UG, which is the name of the company that operates the show mine.

The region has large quantities of slate, which is quite practical as a building material. It is used both for roofing and for cladding house walls. It can also be used for floor slabs and window sills. However, rainwater seeps in near the surface and, in winter, frost erosion causes the stone to break apart. The slate slabs quarried on the surface are therefore often leaky. For this reason, the slate was mined underground; the quality was much better.

Here in Nuttlar, mining began in 1860 with the driving of the first adit. The mine was in operation for over 100 years and employed up to 200 workers. This resulted in many kilometres of tunnels and mining on five different levels. As is always the case in mining, the main problem was groundwater, exacerbated by the nearby River Ruhr. Consequently, the lower two levels were completely flooded, and the middle level was half-flooded, when the pumps were switched off after the end of mining operations in 1985.

The tourist mine offers of two completely different tours. The classic visitor mine showcases one of the two upper levels, which are dry. However, although it has been secured and fitted with safety equipment, there is no electric lighting and no designated walking routes. Visitors are provided with a helmet fitted with a headlamp and gloves, and explore the mine just as the miners did. In mines the floor was level and fitted with tracks for the mine trains. In other words, the walk is not difficult; there is no need to climb. Nevertheless, good walking boots are strongly recommended. This distinctive feature is probably the reason why the mine is known as the Nuttlar Adventure Mine. There is only one guided tour per month, on Saturdays at 2.00 pm, but these run almost all year round. The actual dates are published on the website each year. Due to the limited number of places, the tours book up quickly.

However, there is a second way to visit the mine: the lower three levels. These are completely filled with water and are therefore only accessible to divers. On the middle level, the maximum diving depth is 14 metres, whilst on the lower level depths of up to 30 metres are reached. A distinction is made between two types of divers: certified cave divers can dive unaccompanied for a whole day, whilst recreational divers can undertake a short taster tour in small groups under the guidance of a diving instructor. The diving instructors are from the Sauerland Diving School.