Basque Country
Since Roman times, the Aiako Harria massif in the Basque country has been tapped to extract minerals, including iron ores. Iron ore mining gained momentum in the mid-19th century.
Liège
In 1825, brothers Charles James and John Cockerill obtained a concession from the Dutch King William I to search for lead ore in Plombières.
Niedersachsen
In 1988, the German ore mine Rammelsberg ceased mining for copper, lead, and zinc after almost 1,000 years.
Niedersachsen
The iron Ottiliae head frame in Clausthal-Zellerfeld is the oldest remaining example of its type in Europe.
Wales
A cable car from 1927 is the only reminder of the Cwym Bychan copper mine in Wales.
Sardinia
Sardinia's soil is full of minerals, and that was no different in the hills near the village of Gonnesa. In the mid-19th century, some entrepreneurs discovered zinc ore there.
Sardinia
Although from a distance, the ruins of Sa Macchina Beccia resemble a fairytale castle with its battlements, tower and round-arched windows, appearances are deceptive.
Sardinia
In the mid-nineteenth century, the wooded no man's land around Montevecchio grew into one of the largest mining empires in Sardinia.
Sardinia
The neo-medieval preparation plant of Lamarmora is located on the seafront of Masua in Sardinia.
Sardinia
150 years of zinc processing have left their mark on Monteponi, Sardinia: the earth has turned red, and the hillsides are garnished with ruins of the Miniera di Monteponi.
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Ghost towns offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, each a haunting reminder of lives once lived and worlds long forgotten. Some were abandoned due to disasters, others due to changing economies or political decisions.
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