Barbarastollen underground archive facts for kids
The Barbarastollen underground archive is a super-safe underground vault in Germany. It's like a giant time capsule built to protect Germany's most important historical treasures. This special archive is hidden deep inside an old mine near Freiburg im Breisgau, in the region of Baden-Württemberg.
Inside the Barbarastollen, you'll find about 900 million images stored on tiny films called microfilms. These images come from countless German archives and museums. They include copies of incredibly important documents, like:
- The original peace treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War
- A significant letter from Pope Leo X concerning Martin Luther
- The coronation document of Otto I, a very important emperor
- Personal writings and documents from the famous writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- The first building plans for the amazing Cologne Cathedral
This underground tunnel is unique because it's the only cultural site in Germany protected by the Hague Convention of UNESCO. This means it has special international protection during conflicts. The Barbarastollen is named after Saint Barbara, who is known as the patron saint of miners. The entire complex is buried under 400 meters (about 1,300 feet) of solid rock. It's designed to keep its contents safe for at least 500 years, even if there's a major disaster like a nuclear war.
Contents
Protecting Germany's History
The Barbarastollen archive plays a vital role in keeping Germany's past safe for future generations. Imagine if all the important historical papers and artworks were lost! This underground vault makes sure that doesn't happen. It's a bit like a giant, super-strong safe for national memories.
Why an Underground Archive?
Storing documents deep underground offers incredible protection. The thick rock above the archive shields its contents from many dangers. This includes natural disasters, fires, floods, and even extreme events like wars. The constant temperature and humidity deep inside the mine also help preserve the delicate microfilms for centuries.
What is Microfilm?
Microfilm is a special way to store documents in a very small space. Imagine taking a picture of a book page and shrinking it down to the size of your fingernail! That's what microfilm does. It allows archives to store millions of documents without needing huge buildings. To read them, you need a special machine that magnifies the tiny images.
A Safe Haven for Cultural Treasures
The Barbarastollen isn't just a storage facility; it's a symbol of how much Germany values its history and culture. By protecting these documents, it ensures that future historians, students, and curious minds can always learn from the past.
The Hague Convention and UNESCO
The Hague Convention is an international agreement from 1954. It was created by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). This convention aims to protect cultural property during armed conflicts. When a site like the Barbarastollen is under this protection, it means countries agree not to attack or damage it, even in wartime. This shows how important the archive is considered worldwide.
Images for kids
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Entrance to the archive
