Among urban explorers, this abandoned section of a former coal mine is known as 'Mine des Grimpeurs', or 'the climbers' mine'. Access to this abandoned section requires a significant climb. A climb that's definitely worth the effort, though. The building is completely free of any form of vandalism. The decay, dust, and rust are purely natural signs of decay. An urban exploration destination just the way we like it!

The coal mine was established in the early 1890s. Due to its success, houses, schools, and a church were built nearby, where nothing had existed before. The area quickly grew into a vibrant industrial town with many foreign, primarily Polish, workers.

The company that operated the mining company was nationalized shortly after World War II and became part of a larger group. A second merger followed in the early 1950s. The shaft in this photo series was begun in the mid-1950s, and coal extraction began in 1960. The shaft in question has no main frame, but a 66-meter-high concrete extraction tower. The engine room is located at the top of the tower and contains two extraction engines, each with 4,000 hp. The pit has a diameter of 6.65 meters and has two compartments. It reached a depth of 585 meters in 1957. By the end of the 1960s, the pit was producing 8,000 tons per day, while the initial target was 6,000 tons per day. Mining ceased in January 1986, and the shaft was backfilled and sealed in 1987.