The building of these collieries began in 1860. Closed in 1977, the coal mine in Cheratte belonging to 'Les Charbonnages du Hasard' still retained 600 miners, but during the production peaks this number was over 1500. It was the first coal exploitation electrically powered in Belgium.
Thirty years later, the site is still here, right in the middle of the small town of Cheratte. Everything has been left there, and the cultural heritage of this site is incredible. These abandoned places have been sold to a private owner that let sadly everything rust, although the site was listed as an historical monument in 1982.
Remains go from the miner safety helmet and gas mask to the workforce archives. Local associations fight for the rehabilitation of the site but unfortunately nothing happens.
The site itself is composed of nice medieval-like buildings. We visited it luckily on a sunny morning and enjoyed it. To explore it all, you would need a couple of days...
Thanks for Forbidden Places, it's always wonderous to pop in now and then and catch up with your new explorations and adventures (those feisty Catalonias are fun!) or just to look back on the archives. Great stuff, keep diggin'!
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