The Hansa Coking Plant in Dortmund, a large-scale sculpture that visitors can explore, offers fascinating insights into the history of heavy industry in the last century.
In Dortmund-Huckarde stands a relic from a bygone era that offers fascinating insights into the history of heavy industry in the last century: The Hansa Coking Plant is one of the anchor points of the Route of Industrial Heritage, which connects the most important industrial monuments in the Ruhr region. Today, the coking plant is a designated historic landmark and invites visitors on an exciting journey into the history of that era.
The Hansa Coking Plant began operations in 1928 as a large-scale coking plant in the Dortmund area. Until 1992, it produced coke and coke oven gas from the bituminous coal of neighboring mines, as well as important raw materials for the chemical industry.
A Glimpse into the Past
Today, the old industrial complex can be explored on a walk along the “Nature and Technology Adventure Trail”: The trail first leads up to the coal tower, offering a superb view of the surrounding area, and then back down to the furnace batteries, where hard coal was once “baked” into coke at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Finally, visitors enter the machine hall, which, with its unique ensemble of five gas compressors, is considered the jewel of the facility.
Wild Nature and Climbing Gym
In the years since the Hansa coking plant was shut down, nature has reclaimed its place on the grounds: wild plants and vegetation, including exotic species of flora and fauna, have taken root here. This means visitors can not only admire the coking plant’s distinctive architecture and enjoy an educational museum visit, but also relax in nature afterward. The coking plant grounds are also ideal for sports activities: the old turbo-compressor building has been converted into a large climbing gym.
The Foundation for the Preservation of Historical Monuments offers regular guided tours on weekends and holidays. And there’s a special discovery tour for children, too: Karlchen the Coke Crumb guides young guests through the coking plant in a child-friendly way.
