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Herdorf is one of the oldest mining towns in the region. Archaeological investigations provide evidence of early iron smelting dating back to the Celtic period between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC. The first written sources date from the year 914 AD.
In the early Middle Ages, mining activities are only sparsely documented. It was not until the late 17th century that mining regained significance.
The mining industry became prominent in the city of Herdorf from the 19th century onwards. The industrial site experienced a significant upswing in 1861 with the construction of the Cologne-Gießen railway line and the development of mechanically operated deep mining.
In the following five years, the population (875) tripled. By 1870, more than 20 iron mines were in operation around Herdorf. Several iron ore veins running through the city area provided ideal conditions for this. By 1910, the population of the city had further grown to 4,500.
With ore mining, the metallurgy industry developed further. In the 19th century, several small foundries were consolidated into the Friedrichhütte. After World War I, 2,000 workers were employed in the foundry works alone. The modern foundry shaped the cityscape. The slag sand produced here was transported via a cable car to the Stahlertskopf and still forms the backdrop for the city today.
From 1960 onwards, mining gradually came to a complete halt.
The cityscape-defining Friedrichhütte with its blast furnaces and overhead railway was almost completely dismantled. Only a few remnants testify to the former character of the smelting town, such as the foundry house located directly in the center of Herdorf or the remaining "Ofensau".
Former mining town and center of regional mining with the most mines within a local area.
Contact and directions
Bahnhofstraße 457567 Daaden
Contact
+49 2743 929 0
touristik@daaden-herdorf.de
