This year, the Mechernich Mining Museum Association is once again offering its traditional New Year's Eve hike.

Lead ore was mined in the region around Mechernich for over 2000 years. After the Celts and Romans, it was initially local farmers who cut the nearby surface ore in the winter months and sold it to flying traders. Later on, it was self-paid workers who leased small shafts to extract the ore. At that time, there were more than 250 of these own-account miners' shafts on the Mechernich Bleiberg. Industrial mining of the ore began with the construction of water extraction tunnels to lower the groundwater level and reached its peak at the end of the 19th century. At that time, around 4500 people were directly employed in Mechernich ore mining. For economic reasons, mining operations at Mechernich Bleiberg had to be discontinued on December 31, 1957. Machinery and equipment were dismantled and partly reused at other mining sites. The buildings were dismantled and demolished. Today, only very few remnants of the mining era are still directly visible.

The walks start at the museum building and participation is free of charge.
Two circular routes are offered at the following times:

Long walk (approx. 11 km):
09.30 hrs
10.30 hrs

Short walk (approx. 5 km):
10.00 hrs
11.00 hrs

Please dress appropriately for the weather.

Afterwards, you can enjoy drinks (e.g. mulled wine with or without
shot, punch etc.) and bratwurst in a roll at the mining museum's barbecue hut to bring the hike and the old year to a pleasant close.

Time: from 09.30 a.m.
Cost: free
Location: Mechernich, Bergbaumuseum Mechernich, Bleibergstr. 6
Info-Tel.: 02443. 48697