Our Girl Enjoys The Warm Early Summer Evening Outside.

Our girl enjoys the warm early summer evening outside.

Witten: The Nachtigall colliery (Zeche Nachtigall)

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The Nachtigall colliery is located directly on the river Ruhr in Witten. The museum is part of the Westphalian Industrial Museums and shows 300 years of industrial history. The pioneering era of mining comes to life at the Nachtigall colliery in the Witten Ruhr valley.

The location is ideal: right next door is the mine and field railway museum on the former Theresia colliery and on the other hand the very scenic Muttental opens up. As is well known, this was the cradle of Ruhr mining and many remains still testify to this time. This epoch comes to life again on a remarkable tour of mining history.

The farmers in this area had been digging for coal for their own use for centuries. The Nachtigall colliery was founded in 1714. This year, two farmers were given the right to mine coal in the Coal Bank in Hettberger forrest. For a long time, the coal mining was limited to digging holes, the so-called ping. However, damage to the land by ping extracting partially affected agriculture considerably.

In 1743, about 29 years later, the Baron von Elverfeldt acquired the right to mine hard coal for the Nachtigall colliery. The coal was mined in small businesses with three to six men. In the middle of the 18th century, the first tunnel was built.

Water entering the tunnels was discharged through stollen to the river Ruhr. In addition to the water supply, such stollen also discharge the mine gases, supply fresh air and sometimes also transport coal.

The miners often keep goats and pigs for self-sufficiency and grow vegetables, potatoes and fruit. Plums in particular are dried into dried fruit, which often gives workers the name "Prumenkötter".

Since then, the coal mine has been called "Nachtigall am Hettberg". Winders had been used for a long time to extract coal. The drive is initially provided by humans and horses.

At the turn to the 19th centuries, the transition from tunneling to civil engineering was made at the Nachtigall mine with the help of steam engines. This was only possible through a merger of the mine owners, who could raised the capital for the changeover in this way.

The Nachtigall colliery was one of the first to move from tunnel construction to civil engineering. In 1829 a 6 km long railway for coal transport with horse drive was built. It leads to the coal deposition, south of the road to Wuppertal and the Bergisches Land as well as the Siegerland, to supply the ironworks.

To the north, the Muttental railway leads to the coal deposition on the river Ruhr. As early as 1780, the Ruhr area was navigable from Herdecke to the Rhine - a great relief for coal transportation, which had previously been carried out over long distances with wheelbarrows and horses.

Steam engines  soon solved the water drainage problem. They also make it possible to mine coal below the  water level of the river Ruhr. In 1832 the first underground shaft of the Nachtigall mine was sunk.

In order to be able to raise the huge amounts of capital required for this, several small mines in the area of ​​Nachtigall come together and establish a company. In 1844, the Nachtigall colliery was the largest in the Ruhr area. In the middle of the 19th century, around 300 to 500 people worked here at depths of up to 450 meters.

A bridge over the river Ruhr, the Nachtigall Bridge, connects the Nachtigall colliery to the Witten-West train station. The connection lies on the Bergisch-Märkische Railway, which opened in 1848.

Coal transport is further facilitated as a railway line runs through the Ruhr Valley from 1874. A separate freight station will soon ensure smooth transportation to and from the coal mine.

In 1890, around 880 miners worked at the Nachtigall colliery. In order to keep the coal price stable and to avoid overproduction, the production volume for the individual mines in the Ruhr area is quoted.

The larger collieries north of the river Ruhr buy up the almost unprofitable collieries in the Muttental in order to be able to mine larger quantities overall. In addition, the coal in the Witten area, unlike the fat coal in the northern areas, is not suitable for coking. In some seams, the supply is also exhausted.

In 1892, the operation of the Nachtigall colliery was stopped after a major water ingress. Most of the miners were housed in the mines of the northern mining region or in other industrial companies. The cessation of mining operations and water management on the colliery is followed by the flooding of the civil engineering mine. However, some pits and tunnels remain water-free, which will be important later on.

The site was then taken over by the entrepreneur Wilhelm Dünkelberg. Dünkelberg had ring ovens built for a steam brick factory above the mine shaft. Brick production on the nightingale began in 1897 as a successor to the mining operation.

She used a dry tunnel through the mountain for the direct transport of raw materials from the quarry to the brick kiln, in this case a double ring kiln with the noticeable and distinctive chimney. The brick press designed by Dünkelberg becomes an export hit - it is sold as far as China.

The brickworks on the grounds of the Nachtigall colliery closed in 1963. A car recycling company and a wreath binder moved in - but only for a short time. The buildings are decaying more and more, the colliery houses are demolished in 1966. In the 1970s, the past was remembered and awareness of the importance of industrial culture began to develop.

In 1983 the landscape association Westfalen-Lippe took over the Nachtigall colliery to the Westphalian Industrial Museum (WIM). Since then, the Nachtigall mine has been restored for over 20 years and officially opened in 2003.

Today the visitor experiences the industrial and traffic history of the Ruhr area. The partially accessible double ring kiln of the former brick factory is particularly impressive. Here you almost feel reminded of old castles and medieval fortifications. A coal ship has moored in the grounds, outside on the premises. Coal used to be transported across the river Ruhr on these sailing ships.

In the exhibition around the filled up “Hercules” shaft from 1839 - one of the first underground shafts in the district - guests learn about the technology and difficult working conditions of the miners in the 19th century.

For many, the absolute highlight of their visit is a visit to the old mine. Like the miners of that time, visitors can explore the tunnel with a helmet, a miner's jacket and a lamp. Former miners tell of the harsh conditions under which the miners once brought the "black gold" to light.

Interested people get to know the work with compressed air drill and mining hammer during the mining trip and can get their own impression of how things are going inside a coal mine.

You can find out about the mining history of the Ruhr Valley in the three surviving factory buildings of the colliery. The main focus is on the origin of coal, the industrial development of the Ruhr Valley, coal consumption, Ruhr shipping and the description of the miner´s job about 150 years ago. A steam Winding engine that has been preserved can even be inspected in operation.

Behind the machine house is the outdoor area with the exhibition "Coal in buckets". A tripod was set up here, which used to be used to extract the coal in buckets from the shaft and load it directly onto carts or wagons.

A primitive booth protects the associated reel system. The facility is surrounded by various small huts with coe and lamp room.  There is a quarry at the southern end of the site.

The visitor can inspect the clearly, but lovingly designed area . Most of the exhibits are in closed rooms, which is why a visit in rainy weather is also not a problem. A small café is attached to the museum.

Opening hours Tuesday – Sunday and public holidays 10 am–6pm Last entry at 5:30 p.m.

Closed: Mondays (except public holidays) and from December 23 to January 1.

Entrance fees

Free admission for everyone on the “Museum Days” Children, adolescents and school pupils are free all year round

Adults 4.00 €uros Groups of 16 people or more 3.50 €uros / pp Reduced 2.00 €uros

The entrance prices apply without visit the mining tunnel. Including tunnel admission, the price per ticket increases by 3 €uros, children from 5 years of age pay 1.50 €uros for the tunnel tour.

Die Victoria & Alfred Waterfront befindet sich rings um das historische Victoria und Alfred Becken. Die Lage ist unvergleichbar und in dem Hafen herrscht reges Treiben. Von hier aus kann man den Tafelberg sehen und es gibt historische Gebäude, Museen, live Unterhaltung, Bootsfahrten, Helikopterflüge, Kinos, und verschiedene Stände und Restaurants. Das Two Oceans Aquarium und Ausflüge zu Robben Island sind sehr beliebt.   Das Victoria Wharf Einkaufszentrum, die Alfred Mall, Pierhead, die Waterfront Trading Company und der Red Shed Craft Workshop sind beliebte Einkaufsmöglichkeiten und bieten etwas für jeden Geschmack. Straßenmusiker und andere Künstler tragen zu der ausgelassenen Stimmung an der Waterfront bei.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is situated around the historic Victoria and Alfred basins. Its setting is incomparable, and continuous activity is provided by the working harbour. There are scenic views of Table Mountain, historic buildings, museums, live entertainment, boat trips, helicopter flights, cinemas and numerous stores and restaurants. The Two Oceans Aquarium and trips to Robben Island are major attractions. Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, Alfred Mall, Pierhead, Waterfront Trading Company and Red Shed Craft Workshop are popular shopping destinations, catering for most shopping needs. Street musicians and other buskers add to the festive atmosphere of the Waterfront.

Damara Mopane Lodge is built in the wattle and daub style under Mopane trees and connected by a labyrinth of paths, the main building and chalets of the lodge look like an African village. The walls are adorned by copies of the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

Damara Mopane Lodge - Die großzügig angelegte Lodge liegt eingebettet in abwechslungsreiche Gartenanlagen. Das Hauptgebäude, dessen Wände mit Motiven der Felsgravuren von Twyfelfontein geschmückt sind, wurde unter Mopane-Bäumen errichtet.

Witten:  Steinhausen  Castle

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The Steinhausen Castle is a medieval castle complex, built in the 13th century by the Lords of Witten as a court seat.

First documented in 1297, the castle was almost completely torn down in 1434 by knights from Dortmund, who had come across the river Ruhr with 700 foot servants, 50 riders and 12 wagons, and only rebuilt in a makeshift manner.

The Witten family died out without male heir. By marrying the heiress Jutta von Witten with knight Lutter Stael von Holstein zu Hardenstein, bailiff to Bochum and Wetter, the knight's seat "Steinhus" came to the Stael von Holstein family in 1464 and remained in their possession for almost three centuries.

Lutter's grandson Hardenberg Stael von Holstein, lord of Steinhausen and Dahlhausen, rebuilt the castle in 1529. Robert Stael von Holstein had the tower with a pointed roof and the stepped gable house erected in 1607, as evidenced by the Stael von Holstein coat of arms above the arched door and the inscription: "robbert stael von holstein thumler zu hildesheim built me".

Robert Werner Stael von Holstein, lord of Steinhausen, Dahlhausen and Martfeld, had the chapel built at Steinhausen castle in 1648, where the grave slabs of the family members can still be seen today. The last male offspring of the Stael family from Holstein zu Steinhausen - Wolfgang Robert Leopold, lord of Steinhausen, Martfeld and Lövenich - died in 1729.

His daughters Helena Margareta and Maria Helena, both canonesses to Asbeck, transferred in 1732 (as transaction inter vivos) Castle Steinhausen and the mines in the Ruhr Valley, that had been operated by the Stael von Holstein family since the 17th century, to baron Friedrich Christian von Elverfeldt zu Dahlhausen, grandson of Robert von Elverfeldt and his wife Anna Kunigunde Stael von Holstein zu Steinhausen.

Levin von Elverfeldt built the classicist Steinhausen castle in 1810. The landmark of the old tower on the gable house, the pointed tower, no longer rises above the river Ruhr today. The top was removed due to mining damages and rotten beams.

In the following centuries Steinhausen castle changed hands several times and was converted into a romantic manor at the end of the 19th century. Little reminded that this is a former hilltop mediaeval castle.

The historicist chapel stands on the northeast corner of the manor house. Basically from 1648, it underwent a fundamental redesign in 1904 according to the then prevailing taste of Art Nouveau.

Inside you can see old grave slabs from the 15th to 18th centuries, including the Hardenberg Stael grave stone from Holsteins. The chapel at Steinhausen was built on rocky ground under Robert Stael von Holstein in 1648.

The crypt under the chapel, with archaic cube capitals, was used as a private burial site for the Dünkelberg family until about 1920. The chapel has been lovingly restored and is now accessible again.

The chapel of Steinhausen castle probably had two bells, cast around 1200 and 1500 AD. On one of the bells was the coat of arms of Hardenberg and Stael von Holstein and the inscription "St. Antonius beg for us".

The bell can also come from the former Hardenstein Castle. The Antonius chapel of Hardenstein Castle is mentioned in a document in 1363. Heinrich von Hardenberg died in 1439, the last Hardenberger at Hardenstein Castle. By marriage, the castle came to Stael von Holstein in 1529.

The chapel is not consecrated, but a small altar, a noble cross, saints pictures and pews invite you to pray. Or at least to rethink and switch off. An even older, quieter place of rest lies under the chapel - the crypt, built in 1642.

Until the 1950s or 1960s, the Oberste-Frielinghaus family also had their bodies buried here. The coffins were then transferred, the grave slabs still hang in the chapel. The crypt is now empty and will soon be renovated. But it will remain a devout place of silence.

Today, Steinhausen Castle houses a beautiful restaurant with outdoor dining in Witten-Bommern above the river Ruhr. In the courtyard, a beer garden invites you to enjoy the sunshine between old walls. Weddings are also possible at Steinhausen Castle.

A stonemason can be found in the old stables today. The old gable house is used by the Local Heritage Society, which also strives to preserve the historic buildings and rebuild the old spire.

In the castle park, which invites you to look, marvel and linger, there is a worth seeing permanent exhibition of Shona sculptures from Zimbabwe. Most pieces can also be purchased. Highly recommended!

Zimbabwe's contemporary stone sculpture as the youngest art form in Africa has spawned an incredible number of talents in its sixty years of history. SHONA - ART is concerned with building an economic bridge between Europe and Africa.

All kinds of African animals can be found in and around the castle. You won't see giraffes, elephants and birds in this abundance anywhere in Germany. The stone sculptures from Africa are exhibited in the castle courtyard and in a gallery building (coach house).

Zimbabwe is that country between Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique, which is worldwide known for its abundance of animals and the Victoria Falls. The outside area can be visited, but, apart from the gallery, the buildings not.

Nevertheless, Steinhausen Castle with its restaurant and permanent exhibition is a popular destination in the Ruhr valley. Free parking is available on the street "Auf Steinhausen", uphill to Steinhausen Castle.

The narrow street ends directly at Steinhausen Castle. The gigantic metal animal sculptures are unmistakable: elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalos and other animals are watching all over the place.

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Herten Castle

The Herten moated castle is not far from the city center of Herten, what was once the largest mining town on the European continent.

This gem from the Middle Ages lies in the middle of the Ruhr area, in the middle of a large and remarkable castle park with ancient forest. The late Gothic castle and the extensive 30 hectare castle park invite you to visit with the whole family.

Herten Castle was first mentioned in 1376. The family of those von Herten, liege men of the Abbey Werden, was first mentioned in 1286 with Gerlach von Hertene. Their former residence is believed to be in the town center of Herten at the parish church of St. Antonius.

In the 14th century, the knightly family built a permanent house on the site of today's castle, which was mentioned in 1376 as a fief of the Imperial Abbey in Werden. Herten Castle was initially built as a small weir system. The remains of a keep can still be seen today. In the period that followed, expansion and conversion into a representative castle took place.

By marriage, the Herten house came to the Lords of Galen in the mid-14th century. The heiress Elseke brought it to her husband Dietrich von Stecke in 1488 through her marriage in 1476. Anna von Stecke married Bertram von Nesselrode in 1529, heir to the duchies of Jülich and Berg.

Like numerous members of the Nesselrode family, he was a politically influential nobleman at the time and from 1539 to 1556 he was governor of Cologne in the Vest Recklinghausen. From 1530 he had the castle expanded as a closed fort with corner pavilion towers. The towers are still standing today.

The estate remained in the possession of the von Nesselrode family for almost 300 years. After eventful years, a siege in 1593 and a fire almost a century later (1687), Herten Castle was rebuilt by Baron Franz von Nesselrode until 1702. Baron Franz von Nesselrode-Reichenstein was elevated to the status of imperial count by Emperor Leopold I in 1702.

When the last male representative of the von Nesselrode, Johann Franz Josef von Nesselrode, died in 1826, the castle came through Johann's daughter Charlotte to the von Droste zu Vischering family, who was also elevated to the status of an imperial count in the same year.

The members of their Herten lineage then called themselves Droste zu Vischering von Nesselrode-Reichenstein. The family lived at the Herten estate until shortly after the First World War. However, after they moved to Merten Castle in Eitorf from 1920 and thus gave up Herten Castle as a place of residence, it was left to decay.

The castle remained unused and fell visibly into disrepair until it was sold to the Landscapes Association of Westphalia-Lippe in 1974. The site was renovated until 1989, making it accessible to the public.

The State clinic for psychiatry and psychotherapy Herten is located in the western part, which also uses some historical buildings of the castle. The main castle is reached via a bridge from the outer castle, which in turn is surrounded by a moat and contains a coach house and chapel.

The main castle is today a late Gothic brick building with a closed courtyard. The four parts of the building surrounding it have the shape of a trapezoid. The castle with its characteristic corner towers is surrounded by a moat, a moat. The castle is partially accessible, for example, offers a restaurant, but is mainly used by the clinic.

 After the Schlosspark was awakened from its more than 50-year-old sleeping beauty in 1974, as a People's park it is an integral part of the life of (not only) the people of Herten.

Between 1687 and 1702 the park was transformed from a strict baroque garden into a landscape park based on the English model. Count von Nesselrode even engaged Düsseldorf court gardener Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe to design the palace park.

The small pavilion, Tobacco house, in the castle park got its name from the two Counts Riaucourt - sons of a countess Nesselrode - who found shelter in Herten Castle from the French Revolution. In this garden shed they enjoyed the new fashion of smoking in front of the fireplace, which was frowned upon in the castle.

The orangery, built in 1725, was decorated by a balustrade with 12 statues at the time. It housed the garden casino, court parties were celebrated, orange and ornamental trees were raised and there was space for one of the most beautiful camellia collections.

In the meantime there is unfortunately only a ruin left. Missing repairs and mining damage hit the building, which was only partially renovated in the 1970s. The reconstruction of the surprisingly large orangery is still under discussion.

After the noble family moved from Nesselrode to Merten Castle in 1920, the park was only opened for special celebrations and processions. For nature and animals, it was a relaxing time behind the walls. The park overgrown, but also the Herten moated castle and the orangery decayed over time.

When the Land Association of Westphalia-Lippe bought the property with the castle in 1974, considerable renovation measures were necessary. Between 1974 and 1976 over 2 million DM were invested in the castle park alone. It was only made accessible when it was acquired by the state association.

Botanical treasures from all over the world can be found in the Herten castle park - chile fir trees, Japanese cypresses,  katsura trees or catalpa and  ghost trees. The star magnolia in front of the castle is one of the oldest in Westphalia.

The park was structured in a varied way with meadows, avenues, squares or even a rose garden and invites you to stroll. Rare giant trees, old forests, daffodil meadows, the maze and the open-air theater are grouped around the Herten Castle.

The castle ponds adjoin the picturesque moats, which are particularly impressive due to their biodiversity of waterfowl. Unfortunately, tons of invasive geese (Egyptian geese and Canada geese) have settled here, which obviously feel very comfortable and reproduce splendidly.

The green areas are correspondingly contaminated and the ponds are also badly affected by this overpopulation.

Entry to the castle park is possible 24/7 and free of charge!