Zeche Zollverein

The most beautiful mine in the world? Since closing in 1986, the Zollverein has been transformed into a site for the arts and culture, attracting around 1.5 million visitors annually. In addition to its extraordinary size, the industrial architecture of the complex is acclaimed. The iconic ‘Doppelbock’ winding tower - known locally as the ‘Eiffel Tower of the Ruhr area’ and protected by the UNESCO World Heritage List – is now a lasting symbol of the working culture of an entire region. At its peak, the Zollverein colliery extracted 12,000 tonnes of coal per day, making it the largest and most efficient underground mine in the world. Its proud workforce were accustomed to hitting every target, and that’s exactly what the world’s best student-athlete archers will be aiming to achieve in July 2025.