Title: Regional Profile Report - Central Europe

potentials for communal development strategies. Some of the mining legacies touristic
potentials have been identified by region, as the plans for the re-use of old infrastructures
(Martin-Hoop-Schacht winding tower in Zwickau) and some local projects (thematic hiking
trails, view tower on a heap) clearly show (see Fig. 6+7).
Nevertheless the potentials of the mining heritage are perceived differently across the region.
Some municipalities, like Oelsnitz have identified themselves strongly with their mining past
and have integrated the mining heritage prominently in their development efforts (mining
museum, cultural centre). In contrast to this, the identification with coal mining is not so
strong in Zwickau, where other industrial branches like car manufacturing are also
traditionally important. Here the mining heritage seems not to provide such a great symbolic
potential and support for the implementation of projects based on mining potentials seems to
be limited 45 .
Figure: 6 + 7 Viewing Tower and hiking trail on a dump heap (Oelsnitz)
(Pictures: IOER –Bieberstein)
45 See READY – Initial City Report Zwickau
Regional Profile Zwickau-Lugau-Oelsnitz
45