Mine heap Schwerin
Four themed paths lead to a summit dedicated to the sun: the heap of the former Graf Schwerin colliery is today the highest point in the town of Castrop-Rauxel - and one of the best-known landmarks in the region. This is not least due to the accessible sundial by the artist Jan Bormann at the top. In the course of its transformation process, the tailings pile has had quite an eventful history.
Along with the Erin and Viktor mines, the Graf Schwerin mine was formative for the development of the town of Castrop-Rauxel. Founded in 1872, a coking plant was added in 1887. As a result of the mining crisis, it was shut down in 1967. The spoil heap used until then was originally heaped up in the shape of a cone, but was redesigned by RAG in 1976. And so successfully that in 1984 the heap won the "Federal competition for exemplary design of industrial sites". The Ruhr Regional Association, then still the Ruhr Area Municipal Association, took over the Halde five years later - and from then on focused primarily on art. The central element is the so-called "Geokreuz": four paths that follow the cardinal points exactly. Two form the "industrial axis" with steel stairs, two the "natural axis" with wooden stairs. All lead to the summit, for which the sculptor Jan Bormann created a walkable sundial with 24 stainless steel columns.
From the top of the heap, visitors can enjoy a view across to the nearby Erin colliery, but also further: to the Florian Tower in Dortmund and the Hoheward heap in Herten. Art in public space can be found not only on the summit, but also on the northern edge of the heap, where Peter Strege has created a "water temple" made of mining materials in the source area of the Deininghauser Bach. The wooden artwork "Sinus Pergola" by Klaus Corzillius completes the artistic concept.
