Open-cast mine and Pier

About one kilometre southeast of this viewpoint in the Inden open-cast mine lay pier, which was lost between 2005 and 2015 due to mining-related resettlement.

The first documented mention of Pier dates to 922. However, the place is significantly older, as evidenced by a gravestone from the 7th century found in the Pierer Church.

The Pier court was established around 1350. It probably emerged from the former judicial district of the Müllenark domain. This judicial and administrative district included Pier, Bonsdorf, Haus Pesch, Pommenich, Haus Verken, Vilvenich, Schophoven, Viehöven, Müllenark, Lucherberg, Luchem, Stütgerloch and Jüngersdorf. Merken was added in 1554. The Imperial Barons of Metternich, Lords of Müllenark, presided over the Dingstuhl court as bailiffs.

The Pier court was largely formed within the boundaries of the Pier parish, which existed until 1804. In 1855, Schophoven became an independent parish with Viehöven and Müllenark. More information can be found on the sign ‘1. Church and Barbara Chapel’ on this circular trail. In 1800, the Pier-Merken court became the Mairie Pier, but without Merken. Under Prussian rule, the Mairie Pier became the Pier mayor’s office in 1816, which formed the Lucherberg district with Lamersdorf and Frenz in 1935. In 1972, the municipality of Inden was founded from parts of this district and parts of the Inden district.

When the deferred open-cast mine Inden I was reactivated in 1981, plans began for the resettlement of Altdorf, Inden and Pier. Until the end of the 1980s, the excavation of Schophoven was also discussed, but this was rejected due to its proximity to the Rur, which would have had to be relocated. A citizens‘ initiative was founded in Pier, which rejected the relocation site planned by the municipality of Inden. More than half of the population of Pier voted in favour of relocation to Langerwehe-Jüngersdorf, 20 percent in favour of the municipality of Niederzier. The result of the citizens‘ initiative vote was considered. In 1990, the Inden II lignite plan became legally binding. This meant that the resettlement of Pier would begin in 2005, 15 years later than Altdorf and Inden.

In 2005, the first ground-breaking ceremonies took place at the resettlement sites ‘Rurerde’ in front of Haus Müllenark and ‘Waagmühle’ in Inden/Altdorf. In Langerwehe-Jüngersdorf, the first sod had already been turned in November 2004. The new district east of Jüngersdorf is called ‘Pier’. Around 30 per cent of the Pier resettlers live here. Around 20 per cent live in locations within the municipality of Inden. All other resettlers from Pier have found other places to live.

Schophoven was always relatively isolated by Inde and Rur. The most important connection was the ‘Mühlenweg’ to Pier. Since its expansion at the end of the 19th century, this road was the only road connection for Schophoven on this side of the Rur. More on this on sign ‘7. Schophoven and the Rur’ on this circular route.

The advancing open-cast mining has not only meant that the fields around the ‘Güldenberg’ have been lost forever. After the excavation of Pier and the interruption of the roads to Lucherberg and Inden, many social and communal ties were also lost. Schophoven is now further away from the existing towns in the municipality of Inden than ever before.