Once one of the most modern coal mines in Germany, Grube Göttelborn today stands as a striking contrast of industrial heritage and new beginnings. The history of Göttelborn dates back to the 15th century, when coal was first extracted in the Kohlbachtal valley. Over the centuries, it grew into an important mining center in the Saarland region. The construction of Shaft IV, completed in 1994, was meant to be the crown jewel a state-of-the-art facility topped by a 90-meter-high white tower, then one of the tallest in Europe. Yet its success was short-lived: by 2000, the mine was closed, marking the end of centuries of coal mining in Göttelborn.