Commissioning Artificial Volcano Gartenreich Wörlitz

An artificial volcano is perhaps first associated with the Babelsberg Film Park. However, the artificial volcano in Wörlitz has been part of today’s World Heritage Site of “Gartenreich Dessau-Wörlitz” for more than 230 years. Its precarious condition was the reason for ZRS Ingenieure to undertake what was probably the most unusual project in the company’s history – a feasibility study for the interior lining of the volcano’s walls with earth blocks, and, eventually, the study’s implementation.

After a break of several years, a trial eruption of the artificial Vesuvius in Wörlitz took place at the end of July 2024 , followed by two official and festive eruptions in mid-August. The surface of the inner shell of the earth block was slightly encrusted, but remained undamaged. The desired temperature reduction for the existing masonry had been measured previously, but was greater than expected.