I felt that the current discussions about the closing down of the village of Lützerrath in Germany are a good timing to show you some impressions of Hambach Surface Mining. Even though Lützerath is located in another brown coal area, Garzweiler, Hambach offers more impressive views of how massive man is changing the planet in the pursue for energy. Like the whole area West of Cologne, there are significant coal reserves. In fact, Tagebau Hambach, which is the German name, is the largest man-made hole of the world. Actually, it is pretty impressive. Here are my Pictured Story – style major size pictures.
Hambach Surface Mining – Location
As said, the whole area West of Cologne is rich of coal. In regards of Hambach, the most famous area of the surface mining area was very likely the Hambacher Forst. The biotop-alike forest hosted several unique species. It was saved in 2020. Nonetheless, several villages are closed down evacuated and then excavated away by the massive machines of energy company RWE. One of these “lost” villages is Kerpen-Manheim, to where I take you in the second part of the posting. It is marked in the map below as well as Forum Terra Nova, which is offering a lot of information about the Hambach Surface Mining area, including some viewpoints – and a snack bar in summer.
In fact, the (by far) easiest way to reach Hambach by car are the surrounding motorways, A4 and A61. A4 is nowadays diverted from its original route by a couple of kilometers. The rationale for that was the surface mining operation as well – some parts are no longer existing nowadays.
Terra Nova – Hambach Surface Mining Viewpoints
The Forum Terra Nova is a recreational area already. There are also some open air concerts in summer and a soccer golf course next to it. You can drive Northbound along the mining area. RWE built a couple of viewpoints along the route. The viewpoints typically feature parking in rather near priximity. A very interesting feature of that area (due to the mining) is that there are pumps everywhere to lower the ground-water level. All the pictures have been taken in late summer 2022, by the way.
Views from Terra Nova Viewpoints
Here are some views from the four view points. Overall, the area is some 85 square kilometers large. There is an annual removal of some 250 million (metric) tons of soil, which leads to a production of 40 million tons of coal. The mining is expected to be closed down in 2030. A new landscape, including a major lake, will be artificially created after that point.
Kerpen-Manheim – The Home Race Track of German Formula One Stars
The second part of my trip took me to Kerpen-Manheim. This part of Kerpen is most famous for the the Erftlandring, a karting race track. Originally, the area of the track was supposed to be used for surface mining as well. However, since the Hambacher Forst (Hambach Forest) has been saved from that faith, the track will also stay operational. The Erftlandring has been home to a whole generaion of German Formula One drivers, namely Michael and Ralf Schumacher, Nick Heidfeld, Sebastian Vettel and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. I just had a quick view of the track before heading into the in-fact borough Manhaim.
At the time of visiting in late summer 2022, the streets of Manheim were private Werkstraßen (something like company roads), which you could use at own risk. The state of the roads is obviously average, but some people were still living there during my drive through the borough. Most of the houses, including the impressive church, were ruins or at least locked down already, though. If you tried to do the same visit today, the roads might already be closed – Kerpen-Manheim is expected to be removed by the coal production in 2024.
A key reason why I chose to visit Manheim, however, was to have a look at the historic motorway A4, which is nowadays running a few kilometers South of Manheim. The straight part with the bridge has been still existing during my visit and offered the possibility to step on this kind of ghost road. Driving there would already have been impossible with my car. Right next to the historic motorway, fences and chain-wires prevented you from stepping further towards the huge rotary excavators.
Flyctory.com Pictured Stories
The key contents of Flyctory.com Pictured Stories are the picture, not the text:

The Waterfalls near Seljalandsfoss (Pictured Story)

Brussels Grand Square – The Heart of the City (Pictured Story)

Walking Through Lillehammer City Center (Pictured Story)

Klaksvik and Djupumyra Stadium (Pictured Story)

Nyhavn Copenhagen (Pictured Story)

Wawel Castle Royal Gardens (Krakow – Pictured Story)

Helsinki Old Market Hall (Pictured Story)

Church of Saint Lazarus (Larnaca, Pictured Story)

Views of Wawel Royal Castle (Krakow – Pictured Story)

The Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (Pictured Story)

Walking through Nicosia (Pictured Story)

The New Bedford (MA) Whaling District (Pictured Story)

A Walk Through Inverness (Pictured Story)

There is a single Büchting Street in Germany – and I take you there

Dyrholaey (Iceland, Pictured Story)

Pasteis de Belem – Home of the Famous Pastry (Pictured Story)

Trafford Palazzo – Posh Shopping in Manchester (Pictured Story)

A Walk Through Valletta Old Town (Pictured Story)

Rock of Ages Opening Night – Red Carpet Impressions

Nice Upgrades to Manchester Airport (MAN) Terminal 2 (Pictured Story)

Big Mac Museum (North Huntingdon PA, Pictured Story)

A Look Inside Palma Cathedral (Pictured Story)

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando, Pictured Story)

Al Majaz Park & Waterfront Sharjah (Pictured Story)

Leadenhall Market in London (Pictured Story)

ICE 3neo High-Speed Rail First Class (Pictured Story)

Phantasialand Wintertraum on the Evening (Pictured Story)


Asam Chruch Munich (Pictured Story)


Advent Time at Skanderbeg Square Tirana (Pictured Story)


Carlo’s Bakery Hoboken NJ – The Heart of a Cake Empire (Pictured Story)


Limassol Marina and Harbor (Pictured Story)


Gullfoss – Iceland’s Most Famous Waterfall? (Pictured Story)


Walking Along Castle Ruin Hohensyburg (Dortmund – Pictured Story)


Sunderland Empire Theatre Guided Tour with Rock of Ages Stage


Nashville Mural Art in the Broadway District (Pictured Story)


Exploring Hamburg with the HADAG Public Ferries – Line 61


Exploring Hamburg with the HADAG Public Ferries – Line 73


Exploring Hamburg with the HADAG Public Ferries – Line 72


Exploring Hamburg with the HADAG Public Ferries – Lines 62 & 64 & Overview


View Over Akureyri from Hlidarfljall


Khorfakkan – Amphitheatre and Waterfall (Pictured Story)


3,337 Waffle Houses Away – A Walk through Paola, Kansas


A (Partial) Trip along F899 (Flateyjardalsvegur – Pictured Story)


Exploring the City Center of Woodstock, NY (Pictured Story)


Helgoland Dune Ferry (“Dünenfähre” – Pictured Story)


UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex (Pictured Story)


Akureyrarkirkja – Akureyri Church


Oodi Helsinki – The Modern Library (Pictured Story)


The Historic District of Streetsville, Ontario (Pictured Story)


A Walk Through Greetsiel in East Frisia (Pictured Story)


Sharjah Central Souq (Pictured Story)


Al Madam Ghost Town (Pictures Story)


Austrian Sculpture Park Graz (Pictured Story)


A Walk Through Gdansk Old Town (Pictured Story)


Riding the Swan Adventure Pedal Boat in Dubai – A Special Ride and Posting


Cuvillies Theater (Cuvilliéstheater) Munich (Pictured Story)


Souk Madinat Jumeirah Dubai (Pictured Story)



Walking Through Historic Remscheid-Lennep (Pictured Story)


Ottawa ByWard Market (Pictured Story)


Geysir Hot Spring Area (Iceland – Pictured Story)


Urridafoss – The Highest Flow Waterfall in Iceland (Pictured Story)


Hverir Geothermal Area (Pictured Story)


Walking the Ulica Florianska in Krakow to Market Square (Pictured Story)


The Bridge Between Europe and North America (Pictured Story)


A Walk Through Westerland (Sylt – Pictured Story)


BlueBrixx Megastore (Loop5 Weiterstadt) – The World Largest Brick Bar


Walking around Pilsum Light Tower (Pilsumer Leuchtturm, Pictured Story)


Walking in the London Docklands (Pictured Story)


A Walk Through Berlin’s Government District


The Eschede Derailment Memorial



A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


A Walk Through Zeche Zollverein (Pictured Story – Essen, Germany)


Yas Mall Abu Dhabi


Al Seef – A Historic District at Dubai Creek


Paseo de Canarias & Paseo de Gran Canaria in Firgas (Pictured Story)


Views of London from One New Change (Pictured Story)


Aviation Monuments on Gran Canaria (Pictured Story)


Namco Funscape London (Pictured Story)


The train to Hogwarts? King’s Cross, Platform 9 3/4 (Pictured Story)


Rossfeld Panoramic Route



Watching Cologne from Europa Rad Ferris Wheel


Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Hall) Hamburg


Hangar 7 (Salzburg, Austria – Pictured Story)


Milan Cathedral (Pictured Story)


Herbertstrasse Hamburg – A Covid-19 Vacuum in the Red Light District


Fujairah Fort (Pictured Story)


St. Helier (Jersey) Markets (Pictured Story)



Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Clarke Quay (Singpore) by Night (Pictured Story)


Dublin – A Walk along the River Liffey (Pictured Story)
Travel Postings about the Cologne Region
Here are all Flyctory.com travel postings of the region around Cologne:


SkyTrain Dusseldorf Airport


Bergischer HC (Handball) at Uni-Halle Wuppertal


Pullman Cologne


Mercure Hotel Severinshof Cologne City


Mercure Cologne City Friesenstrasse


Hilton Dusseldorf


Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railroad)


Open Sky Lounge Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)


H+ Hotel Köln Brühl


Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)


Wasserturm Hotel Cologne (Curio Collection by Hilton)



Phantasialand Wintertraum on the Evening (Pictured Story)


Sea Life Oberhausen


Weird Al Yankovic is touring Europe 2023 – Tour Dates and Travel Hints


Road Stop Motel Mettmann (Presidential Suite)


Staying Overnight at the VIWA Private Spa Wuppertal


INNSIDE Dusseldorf Derendorf


German Röntgen Museum Remscheid


KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne


The Bergisch Coffee Table (Bergische Kaffeetafel) – A Sweet and Savory Tradition


European Airports Go Mad – a Morning at Dusseldorf Airport


Hampton by Hilton Aachen Tivoli


The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)


The Paradise of Calories – Chocolate and Candy Outlets in Aachen


House of German History (Haus der Geschichte) Bonn


Solingen Bird and Animal Park


Visiodrom Wuppertal


Premier Inn Cologne City South


Sea Life Königswinter


Hampton by Hilton Dusseldorf City Centre


VfL Gummersbach (Handball) at SCHWALBE arena



Walking Through Historic Remscheid-Lennep (Pictured Story)


My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts


Charles Dickens Christmas Market Heimbach


Leonardo Hotel Düsseldorf Airport (Ratingen)


Hyatt Regency Cologne


The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)


Fauna Animal Park Solingen


Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport


MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience


Bergisches Museum for Mining, Craft & Trade Bensberg



A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum Dusseldorf


Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne


taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home


Deutsches Museum Bonn


Chocolate Museum Cologne (Schokoladenmuseum)


Maritim Hotel Cologne


The Fair Play Suite at the Kameha Grand Hotel Bonn


Bonn Marriott Hotel



Watching Cologne from Europa Rad Ferris Wheel


ibis Dusseldorf Main Station


Dusseldorf Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)


INNSIDE Hotel Dusseldorf Hafen


100 Years of Gold Bears and More – Haribo Shopping around Cologne


“Climbing” the Monte Troodelöh, Cologne’s Highest Point


Autokino Düsseldorf – Drive-Movies & Show


Car Watch – A new Pop-up Drive-in Cinema in Cologne



Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Cologne DRIVE IN Movies – More than the Covid-19 Alternative


German Fairy Forest (Deutscher Märchenwald) Altenberg


Arithmeum Bonn – A Museum about Calculations


Hilton Bonn


Historic Mustard Mill Cologne


Cologne Old Town Christmas Market


Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market


Cologne Cathedral / Roncalli Square Christmas Market


Stars Of The Galaxy – A Star Wars Shrine in Mönchengladbach


Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum


Dusseldorf Airport Photo Tour


Andernach Geyser


On Top of Leverkusen Water Tower


German Blade Museum Solingen


The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour


Bergisch Historic Trams Wuppertal


Museum Plagiarius Solingen – The Place for Copies


Lindlar Open Air Museum


Alte Dombach Paper Mill


Very Important Postings – July to December 2018


Ratingen-Cromford Textile Factory


The Eau de Cologne Giants – 4711 vs. Farina


Leverkusen Deer Park Reuschenberg (Review)


Dormagen Deer Park Tannenbusch


City Outlet Bad Münstereifel


LINA @ Kunst!Rasen Bonn


History of Gaming in Cologne’s City Museum


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 5 (Trip Report)


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 1 (Trip Report)


Thx