Barsinghausen Monastery Tunnel

The “Ruhr region” of the Region Hannover? In the 19th century, that was, in a sense, the Deister. About 2,000 miners worked in the mines along the ridge southwest of Hannover, and the coal extracted there provided the energy source for much of the local industry for around 100 years.

The most important mine was the Klosterstollen underground shaft complex in Barsinghausen, where miners extracted “black gold” for more than 60 years. Today, visitors can ride the mine train into the Klosterstollen along a route about 1.3 kilometers long—and get off at various stops along the way. Those who take part in such a “guided tour” at the Klosterstollen Barsinghausen visitor mine receive basic information about mining in the Deister region in the past—such as how to prepare for a blast, coal extraction, or old mine tunnels.

Visitors can also explore the outdoor areas of the Klosterstollen and view the special exhibition “Energiegeladen – Wege der Deisterkohle.”

© Christian Wyrwa

Local recreation

Deister

The wooded ridge with surrounding farmland is a perfect area for cyclists and hikers.

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