Erlebnismuseum Westfälische Salzwelten

Useful Information

Location:	An der Rosenau 2, 59505Bad Sassendorf. (51.5848774, 8.1654464)
Open:	All year Tue-Fri 10-17, Sat, Sun, Hol 10-18. Closed 01-JAN, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 01-MAY, 24-DEC, 25-DEC, 31-DEC. [2026]
Fee:
Classification:	Salz
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Erlebnismuseum Westfälische Salzwelten, Tel: +49-.
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History

Geology

The North German Plain consists of approximately 4.5 km of Mesozoic sediments. The formation of basins led to the intrusion of the sea across large parts of Europe, and a wide variety of sediments were deposited in these shallow inland seas. The base of these sediments is crystalline bedrock. Overlying this are rocks of the Zechstein, the earliest period when seawater penetrated the new basin. At that time, the connection was not permanent; seawater entered and evaporated in the arid continental climate. Thick layers of gypsum, rock salt and potash salt formed, and this sequence was deposited in multiple layers.

Much later, following a phase of subsidence and deposition, uplift occurred once more; the sea became land, and erosion set in. This movement led to the formation of faults and fault zones, causing the rocks to crack. Salt is lighter than normal rock; moreover, it is plastic under high pressure and temperature, so it began to flow and rise. It made use of the fissures, and thus salt rose to the surface. Salt is lighter than normal rock; moreover, under high pressure and temperature it is plastic, so it began to flow and rise. It used the fissures for this, leading to the formation of salt diapirs at fissure intersections, as well as salt walls along fault zones.

Mining is based on the fact that salt-tectonic structures reach the surface throughout the North German Plain. In some cases, they are reached by groundwater, forming brine springs from which salt was extracted through evaporation and distillation. In other cases, shafts were sunk and the salt mined underground. As a rule, both rock salt for human consumption and potash salt for fertiliser production and the chemical industry are found. Depending on which is more common or has been mined more extensively, the term used is either ‘salt mines’ or ‘potash mines’.

Description

The Erlebnismuseum Westfälische Salzwelten (Westphalian Salt Worlds Experience Museum) is dedicated to the process of extracting salt from brine. In this respect, it is a form of mining without a mine and therefore without an underground tour. The museum is situated on the Westphalian Salt Route in a 600-year-old farmhouse, the Hof Haulle. Bad Sassendorf is a so-called Sälzerdorf (salt-making village), a village where salt was extracted from brine springs through evaporation.

Across an exhibition area of over 900 m², the origins of salt and brine are explained, along with how the crystalline structure of salt is formed. This process results in the typical cubic salt crystals, which are symbolised by a glass structure in the shape of a cube on the side of the building. The history of salt production in the Hellweg region is also explained. On the upper floor, the use of salt and brine in everyday life is showcased. Salt in food is covered, as are brine baths and the associated therapeutic effects.

Bad Sassendorf offers brine baths, it has held the title of ‘Bad’ (spa town) since 1906 and has been officially recognised as a mud and brine spa since 1975. A graduation tower in the town is part of the spa, the salt-laden air has medicinal properties. Originally, graduation towers were used to enrich the brine. However, even the predecessor to the current graduation tower was only built after salt production had ceased.