Industrial Culture Hike with Miner's Breakfast

A Day of Hiking with History

To understand Saarland, you must understand its mining industry. Until 2012, hard coal was mined in the Saar region – for over two and a half centuries. The traces of this past still shape the landscape: spoil heaps, subsidence ponds, former mining facilities, miners' settlements. The industrial culture hike in Bildstock (Friedrichsthal) leads right through this heritage – and it does so with an expert guide: Dr. Frank Hirsch, head of the Documentation Center of the Saarland Chamber of Labour.

The Rechtsschutzsaal Bildstock – A Historic Site

The starting point for every hike is the Rechtsschutzsaal in Bildstock, an industrial building worthy of UNESCO status. In 1890, the 'Rechtsschutzverein der Saarbergleute' (Legal Protection Association of Saar Miners) was founded here – one of Germany's first miners' guilds and a milestone in the labor movement. The hall itself, a brick building with decorative gables, now serves as a museum and event venue.

The Route

Approximately seven kilometers long, moderately challenging. From the Rechtsschutzsaal, the route passes the subsidence pond (a lake created by mining), crosses the spoil heap, and finally leads to the former Reden Colliery – one of the most important shaft facilities in the Saar region, now an industrial monument. On the way back, the path leads through the surrounding forest.

Topics Along the Way

During the hike, Dr. Hirsch explains the central themes of Saarland's mining heritage:

• Solidarity: How miners founded mutual aid associations
• Co-determination: The Saar mines as a pioneer of industrial democracy
• Structural Change: How Saarland is finding its way after the end of mining
• Renaturation: How industrial wastelands are becoming recreational areas

The Miner's Breakfast

After the hike, the enjoyable part follows: the traditional miner's breakfast in the beer garden of the Rechtsschutzsaal. The meal – once the energy food before a shift underground – consists of fried potatoes, fried egg, bacon, and a hearty slice of farmer's bread. Sometimes, the Brass Ensemble of the Bergkapelle Saar plays along – the last of the once numerous miners' bands in Saarland.

Who is Dr. Frank Hirsch?

Frank Hirsch is a historian and heads the Documentation Center of the Saarland Chamber of Labour. His specialty: social and labor history of the Saar region. He is considered one of the foremost experts on Saarland's industrial history and leads his hikes with the tone of an experienced storyteller.

Who Comes Here?

People from Saarland who want to better understand their own history. Tourists interested in industrial culture. Clubs, school classes, seniors. The hike is a means to an end – the real experience is the history between the spoil heaps.