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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Folschviller well I is a former mining site in the Houillères de Lorraine, located in the commune of Folschviller, Moselle. Its history is marked by coal mining, typical of the Lorrain basin in the 20th century. The well is distinguished by its extraction tower, a 58-metre-high metal chivalry built between 1931 and 1948. This type of structure, in the shape of a hammer, symbolizes the mining industrial architecture of the time and reflects the intense economic activity associated with coal extraction in the region.

The drilling of the two wells at Folschviller began in 1931 under the aegis of the Compagnie des Mines de Saint-Avold, with effective operation beginning in 1942. The works were completed in 1948 with the construction of the chivalry tower of well 1, carried out by Barbier, Bernard and Turenne, based in Quiévrechain. This horse riding, equipped with two extraction compartments and machines located at its top, illustrates the technical advances of the French mining industry. The site was closed in 1979, marking the end of its productive activity.

In 1992, the former extraction tower was listed as historic monuments by order of 22 October, thereby recognizing its heritage value. This ranking underlines the importance of this industrial vestige in local and regional history, while preserving a material testimony of the Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine. Today, the Folschviller I well remains a symbol of the Moselle mining past, accessible to the public as part of the French industrial heritage.

The location of well I, close to the old core of Folschviller, reinforces its anchoring in the town's urban and historical landscape. Its approximate address, 18 Alex Dreux Street, allows to situate this monument in an environment marked by the legacy of mining activities. The property of the tower now belongs to the municipality, ensuring its conservation for future generations.

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