Rathausstrasse 75, 66333 Voelklingen, Saarland Germany

The Völklinger Hütte World Heritage Site was the first monument from the zenith of the industrial era to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The sensational announcement was made on 17 December 1994 in Phuket, Thailand: for the first time, a place associated with industry and work was to join the ranks of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Up to then, the list had been reserved for cathedrals, old towns and palaces. Today, the Völklinger Hütte World Heritage Site is not just the world’s only fully intact ironworks from the industrial era; it is also a unique location for international exhibitions, festivals and concerts. And it is a place where culture and nature meet: The Paradise, located in what was once the “hell” of the coking plant, is a fascinating garden where diverse flora and fauna have recaptured parts of the former industrial facility.

Rathausstrasse, Voelklingen, Saarland Germany