On the trail of traces in the Bensberg ore district

Today the Volbach valley is an idyllic nature reserve, but until well into the 20th century, lead and zinc were mined here in large mining operations (mines).
The so-called Bensberg ore district, in its greatest extent, stretched from Bensberg and Siegburg to Reichshof and Windeck, thus encompassing large parts of today's Bergish districts of Rhein-Berg, Oberberg and Rhein-Sieg. 
From the middle of the 19th century, ore mining in the Bensberg area played a significant role in German zinc production; it only ended in 1978 with the closure of the Lüderich mine.
Our route first leads to the former ore processing plant, the "Immekeppeler Hütte". Then we head into the Volbach valley with the former Apfel and Berzelius mines. Along the way, you'll pass some of the buildings that still stand today and discover the traces that mining has left on the landscape.

You can find further information here: Link to the LVR website