Förderturm der Grube Georg

Grube Georg Mine Head

Useful Information

Location:	Grubenstraße 9, 56594 Willroth. Willroth, historische Raiffeisenstraße, an der A3 Abfahrt Neuwied/Altenkirchen. (50.567363, 7.522073)
Open:	APR to OCT 3rd Sunday of month 14:30-17. Guided tour 14:30, online booking mandatory. Tag des offenen Denkmals 11-17. [2026]
Fee:	Adults EUR 5, Children (14-18) EUR 3. Tours after appointment: minimum fee EUR 50, up to 10 persons. Tag des offenen Denkmals: free. [2026]
Classification:	Iron Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided. Guided tour: D=90 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Bürgerinitiative Willroth e.V., Hans-Jürgen Kalscheid, Tel: +49-2687-7909043. E-mail: Thomas Schug, Tel: +49-179-1158396. Verbandsgemeindeverwaltung Flammersfeld, Tel: +49-2685-809192, Tel: +49-2685-809193. 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

1338	medieval mining on the Willrother Berg in Pingen (OPEN CASTS) and smelting in blast furnaces.
1952	begin of construction.
1954	headframe completed.
31-MÄR-1965	the closure of Georg mine marks the end of ore mining in the Siegerland region.
1988	winding tower designated an industrial monument.
1994	begin of renovation.
1995	renovation completed.
APR-2002	museum opened to the public.

Geology

The so-called ‘Horhauser Gangzug’ is a fault zone containing a large number of veins rich in so-called Spateisen (spate iron). The cracks were formed by tectonic movements and were subsequently filled with minerals through hydrothermal convection. Depending on the elements present in the underlying rock, this can result in a wide variety of ores. Here, however, almost exclusively iron ore was found. Due to the thickness of the veins, their large number and the high iron content within them, mining remained profitable until the mid-20th century. The veins were exposed by surface erosion, meaning they reached the surface, which allowed for mining to take place from the Middle Ages onwards.

Description

The head frame of Schacht II (shaft II) of Grube Georg is 56m high. It was built in the early 1950s with financing by the Marshall Plan, the U.S. initiative to restore democracy and infrastructure in Germany, and the German Montanunion, a conglomerate of mining companies. It was renovated in the 19990s, which took until 2002 when it was finally opened to the public. It can be visited outside and inside, including the rope wheels in the second floor.

This head frame is the landmark of the abandoned iron ore mining around Flammersfeld. The iron ore is found along a cleft named Horhauser Gangzug. The mining starts with Grube Georg and Zeche Girmscheid, then follow the mines Friedrich Wilhelm, Nöchelchen, Louise, Lammerichskaule, Harzberg and Silberwiese.