Life and death of a colliery. The condition and significance of former coal mining facilities in the transborder region of saarland-moselle

The region of the Saar Basin in Germany and Moselle in France used to be one of the most important centres of coal mining. Spatial transformations of the region are related to the close-down of collieries and to the redevelopment of the former mining facilities. The research carried out by the Author in 2015 enabled an analysis of mines, taking into account the mode and scope of their redevelopment, as well as significance of these facilities. Several types of transformations have been distinguished – ranging from demolition of the former mining facilities to their adaptation for a new use. The analysis has given grounds for an evaluation of the observed processes, also in the aspect of the significance of the mines for revitalisation of the degraded areas. The conclusions primarily refer to the mining facilities in the Saarland-Moselle region, yet they may provide a reference point in the evaluation of transformations of similar European regions.