The first steel factory of Völklingen, founded by the engineer Julius Buch in 1873, was a fail and closed 6 years after its opening. In 1881, Carl Röchling buys the buildings. Six furnaces 45m high and 250m long, 104 charcoal ovens, a 10 000 m2 "Möllerhalle" room where ores are stored, the biggest installation for concretion, up to 17000 workersÉ Völklingen becomes one of the most productive and innovative steel factories in Europe. Its central water tower, erected in 1918, is the first european construction of concrete beams.
The steel crisis ends achieving the region in 1986 and after one hundred year running, the high furnaces of Völklingen finally burn out. Thousands of workers lose their jobs.
In 1994 the UNESCO classifies the factory world legacy. Some former workers still work in Völklingen as guides for the tourists.
