The Zollern Colliery
Westphalian State Museum of Industrial Heritage
As the prestige object of the largest mining company at the turn of the century, the Zollern colliery in Dortmund had a brilliant start in the late empire. Soon afterwards, the castle-like complex underwent a typical career of technical monuments in the Ruhr area: from the key building of its time to an insignificant family dump, from demolition to the first technical monument of international importance in Germany. Today Zollern is a museum of the social and cultural history of Ruhr mining. The LWL-Industriemuseum presents the model colliery as a testimony to the structural change in the region.
Barrier-free information
All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility tested - partially accessible for people with walking disabilities".
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report at the end of the text.
- There are three marked parking spaces for people with disabilities in parking lot 1.
- A path with a gradient of 6% leads from the entrance area to the outdoor area.
- The various buildings are located on the open-air grounds, most of which are easy to walk and drive on. Some of the tracks run across the site.
- The outdoor paths have maximum longitudinal gradients of up to 6%.
- All rooms that can be used by guests and are elevated are accessible at ground level or via ramps or elevators.
- All passageways/doors are at least 80 cm wide.
- The exhibits in the exhibition rooms are mainly visible when standing or sitting.
- There are wheelchair-compatible tables in the horse stable restaurant (maximum height 80 cm, wheelchair compatible at a height of 67 cm and a depth of 30 cm)
- There are public WCs for people with disabilities in the Alte Werkstatt and in the Lohnhalle, which can be accessed from at least one side (at least 70 cm).
- There is a flip-up grab rail at least on the accessible side of the toilet.
- Aids available: wheelchair, rollator, mobile folding stool, illustrated leaflets in large print suitable for orientation and explanation
- Guided tours are offered for people with walking disabilities and wheelchair users. Advance booking is requested.
- Tour guides are trained so that guests with walking disabilities and guests in wheelchairs can take part in every tour and their needs are catered for. The entire route of the tour is steplessly accessible for wheelchair users.
- The machine hall, shaft hall and quarry can be viewed as 360° tours on the Internet before the visit.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report at the end of the text.
- In the event of an audible alarm, there is no visually perceptible flashing or strobe signal.
- There is no audio induction loop system.
- In the elevators, outgoing emergency calls are not confirmed visually. Alternatively, stairs are available.
- Illustrated large-print leaflets are available, which are very suitable for orientation and explanation.
- There are tables with bright and glare-free lighting in the Pferdestall restaurant, with no lamps standing or hanging that restrict the field of vision.
- Guided tours are offered for people with hearing impairments and deaf people. Advance booking is requested.
- Sign language interpreters can be organized.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report at the end of the text.
- Assistance dogs may be brought along.
- The outdoor paths have a visually contrasting and mostly tactilely detectable walkway boundary. The paths are mostly easy to walk and drive on.
- Glass doors are usually provided with safety markings.
- Almost all areas are brightly lit and glare-free. Exceptions: the exhibitions in the machine hall in the basement and in the Old Workshop (Underworlds).
- In the elevators, an emergency call is confirmed acoustically.
- Stairs are not designed with visually or tactilely contrasting edges. Handrails are usually present.
- The exhibits are generally well lit. The information on the exhibits is visually rich in contrast.
- The menu of the Pferdestall restaurant is designed in plain, high-contrast lettering. The menu is also available on an accessible website.
- Aids on offer: reading aids, illustrated large-print leaflets, which are very suitable for orientation and explanation
- Guided tours are offered for people with visual impairments and blind people. Advance booking is requested.
- Guides are trained so that visually impaired and blind visitors can take part in every tour and their needs are taken into account.
- Information is not available in Braille or prismatic writing.
Old administration
- A continuous tactile guidance system is available here.
- In the elevator, the stop position is announced by voice.
- There are listening stations and tactile models.
- Information is available in Braille or prismatic writing. There is also acoustic information about the exhibits.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report at the end of the text.
- Name and logo are clearly visible from the outside.
- The destination of the path is usually within sight or there are signs at a constantly visible distance.
- There is no colored guidance system.
- There is an illustrated folder in large letters with explanations on the path and the objects.
- Information is partially displayed in easy language and photorealistic representations.
- Information is not displayed with pictograms (exception: signage of the toilet).
- Guided tours are offered for guests with cognitive impairments. Please book in advance.
- Special trained guides make sure that guests with cognitive impairments can take part in any guided tour and their concers are taken into account.
- In the restaurant "Pferdestall" there is no menu with pictures of the dishes.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
Image gallery
The Zollern Colliery
(Zeche Zollern)
The Zollern Colliery
(Martin Holtappels)
The Zollern Colliery
(Zeche Zollern)
The Zollern Colliery
(Annette Hudemann)
The Zollern Colliery
(Gaby Paluszak)