Förder- und Aussichtsturm Barbaraturm

Useful Information

Location:	Auf der Steineberger Höhe, 57629 Malberg. On the road between Malberg and Steinebach/Sieg. (50.721110, 7.822840)
Open:	no restrictions. [2022]
Fee:	free. [2022]
Classification:	Mining Museum
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Verbandsgemeinde Betzdorf-Gebhardshain, Hellerstraße 2, 57518 Betzdorf, Tel: +49-2741-291-118. 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

1999	headframe in Bad Grund in the Harz disassembled.
2013	headframe erected.
17-MAY-2014	headframe opened to the public and christened the Barbara Tower.

Description

At first glance, the Förder- und Aussichtsturm Barbaraturm (Barbaraturm headframe and observation tower) appears to be a show mine, but this is not correct. In fact, it is a winding tower from the Harz Mountains, and it was rebuilt 500 m from the historic site of the winding tower of the Bindweide mine. The tower serves as a lookout tower and a resting place for hikers, and is freely accessible. It is not a mining museum either, but the winding tower itself is a technical monument and an educational sign in the building at the foot explains the background. Inside the tower, the elevator has also been reconstructed, as well as a cable drum which indicates the position of the winding engine.

The Bindweide mine had the Tiefer Stollen (Deep Tunnel), which is now a show mine, leading horizontally into the mountain. However, after the Krupp company took over the Bindweide mine in 1872, mining was carried out at greater depths. For this purpose, a shaft was sunk and a winding tower of the Mine Malakowturm type was erected on top of it, called Schacht I (Shaft I). In 1905/1906, Schacht II (Shaft II) was sunk, and this time a steel winding tower was erected, which was very similar to the Barbara Tower. Both were demolished, and so this lookout tower is a kind of monument to local mining history.