The Völklinger Hütte is one of the only intact ironworks surviving from the 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe and is, since 1994, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Once one of the most important ironworks in the world, this massive industrial complex played a crucial role in the region's industrial history from 1882 until it ceased operations in 1986. Covering an area of over 600,000 square meters, the Völklinger Hütte is a unique example of industrial architecture, featuring blast furnaces, coking plants, and ore processing facilities. Today, it serves as a cultural venue, hosting exhibitions and events that highlight both its industrial past and contemporary art.
Völklinger Hütte
Blast furnaces
The blast furnaces were initially built between 1883 and 1916 and then periodically renewed. The six blast furnaces of the Völklingen ironworks each have an outer diameter of almost 10 meters, resulting in a combined daily output of around 6,000 tons of pig iron. It was transported by torpedo car to the nearby steelworks.
The charging platform is 240 meters long and located at a height of 27 meters. Monorail cars were used to provide the raw materials.
monorail cars at the charging platform
Völklinger Hütte
blast furnaces
blast furnaces
Paradies
In the now called "paradise" area of the complex, where the former coking plant was located, plants have taken over many of the buildings.
Paradies
Paradies
Gebläsehalle
The blower hall was built between 1900 and 1938. The huge gas machines were driven by blast furnace gas and generated the wind for the blast furnaces. Since 1996, the Gebläsehalle is used for events and exhibitions.
The German Cinema
The German Cinema
Gebläsehalle
Urban Art Biennale
The first Urban Art Biennale was held in 2011. The 10 meters high sculpture King Kong was created by Ottmar Hörl for the "5. UrbanArt Biennale 2019 Unlimited". "Edmond se détend" is a work by Flavien Demarigny, installed inside a former chimney.
"King Kong" by Ottmar Hörl
"Edmond se détend" by Flavien Demarigny
Part of the most recent edition, Urban Art Biennale 2024, is "Ganzfeld", a collaborative artwork by Krista Burger and Kenneth Letsoin. Visitors and school classes are invited to create their own painting which are then assembled by the artists and shown in the former sintering plant.
"Deus ex machina" is a work by "Rocco und seine Brüder" from Berlin. It is composed of stained glass windows, as normally found inside churches, inside a tank !
"Ganzfeld" by by Krista Burger and Kenneth Letsoin
"Deux ex machina" by "Rocco und seine Brüder" from Berlin
Perpetual Ending is an artwork by Zevs and features the iconic "The End" in the Ventilator Hall.
Perpetual Ending by Zevs
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