For more than 450 years, many people from Wittgenstein found work and bread in a once flourishing industry, slate mining. Count Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg issued the oldest surviving concession for slate mining in 1717.
The valuable natural stone was mined in Raumland. The dark blue slate was an important building material. Distinguished by its dark color and great durability, Raumland stone was used for roof and wall slate, window sills and steps. The slate was not only sold within Germany, but was also demonstrably exported to England, France and Hungary. The heyday of the roofing slate industry began in 1860, when roofs were no longer allowed to be thatched. Due to the increased demand for roofing slate, twelve slate mines were established in and around Raumland, where around 450 miners earned their daily bread.
If you want to get a taste of the mining air today, you can still visit the "Delle" mine. The temperature in the tunnel is a cool seven degrees Celsius. Walk through the dark and cool shafts of the slate show mine and learn about the formation, mining and processing of slate.