Schieferstollen Recht


Useful Information

Location: Recht, near St. Vith. German speaking Belgium.
Open: APR to OCT Tue-Sun 10-18, last tour 16:30.
NOV to MAR after appointment.
[2007]
Fee: Adults EUR 7, Children (4-15) EUR 5, Children (0-3) free, Family (2+*) EUR 20.
Groups (+): Adults EUR 6, Children (4-15) EUR .
[2007]
Classification: MineSlate Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=7 °C, H=100%.
Guided tours: D=90 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: VoG "Schieferstollen Recht", Poteauer Straße 1, 4780 Recht, Tel: +32-80-570067, Fax: +32-80-570067.
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

1886 mine opened by the brothers Margraff, upper tunnel started.
1890 lower tunnel started.
1895 lower tunnel completed.
1914 mine closed.
1920 last quarry closed.
JUN-2007 opened to the public.

Geology


Description

The slate at Recht was mined for centuries, in quarries. The mine was started in the mid 1880s by the brothers Margraff to mine the lower and more valuable slate. Also the surface mining had reached depths which made quarrying difficult. The mine had two tunnels to the slate, an upper and a lower one, which created a natural air circulation. The lower one lies about 60 m below the suface and reaches the slate after 300 m. It was mined almost completely which created a huge chamber called Kathedrale (cathedral), which is 300 m long and up to 14 m high. The mined rock was transported to the surface in miners trains, typically in 750kg blocks. A part of the rails still exists.

The slate mine here was called Rechter Blaustein (blue rock of Recht), because of the typical blueish or dark violet colour. It could not be used for roofs and walls as it was not possible to split it thin enough. But the rock is extremely resistant against acids and weathering, so it was used for sauerkraut and as tan basins in the tanning industry of St. Vith, Malmedy, Stavelot, and Antwerp The rock had the biggest importance in the creation of religious art, especially crosses. The oldest burial stone created of this rock is from 1649, one year after the end of the 30 years war. It is located in the entrance hall of the chapel Wiesenbach near St. Vith. The oldest cross made of Blaustein is found at Mackenbach near St. Vith, . In daily life it was used for window and door frames, keystones, corner stones, troughs, sinks, and water pipes.

The village recht belongs to Belgium, but it is a German speaking enclave. At the begin of the 18th century hewers from Tyrolia, right on the other end of the German speaking area, moved in from Kappl in the Paznautal. They influenced the art and the techniques of the Blaustein processing. Their characteristic symbol was the Christian JHS.