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Ancient German Charcoal Craft Burns Bright
27 Jul
Summary
- Family maintains over 1,000-year-old charcoal production methods.
- Charcoal was vital for historic Harz Mountains ore mining.
- Modern charcoal is sold for home barbecues, supporting few remaining burners.
The ancient craft of charcoal burning continues in Germany's Harz mountain region, where the Feldmer family upholds a tradition spanning over 1,000 years. Immo and Sascha Feldmer, who inherited the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus business from their father, utilize traditional earthen kilns to produce charcoal from beech wood. This process, requiring constant vigilance day and night, transforms wood into charcoal that historically powered the region's vital ore mining operations for metals like silver and copper.
While ore extraction has ceased and most charcoal burning families have disappeared, the Feldmers produce around 40 tons of high-quality beech wood charcoal annually, primarily for home barbecue enthusiasts. This modern market helps sustain the business, which also includes a museum, store, and restaurant. The family actively hopes their children will continue the tradition, preserving this unique and historic craft for future generations.
