Hidden Heritage Under Threat: Lavrio Historic Wharf

Lavrio was famous in Classical antiquity for its silver mines, upon which the city of Athens based part of its prosperity. At some locations the ancient shafts and galleries, as well as the washing tables can still be seen.

After a long period of inactivity, the mines reopened at the end of the 19th century by French and Greek companies mainly for ore, silver-lead ore, lead, manganese and zinc. For the needs of the “new era” mining, the industrial city of Lavrio [Laurium] was created and the area was inhabited again after many centuries.

The 19th century companies were operating until 1981 when the final closure came, leaving behind a vast industrial site with remarkable buildings, depots, mechanical equipment and of course, the metallic and stone Wharf of the French Mining company, which is commonly known as The French Wharf of Lavrio.

In 1987, it was listed as a historic monument construction, without taking any measures for its protection and conservation.

The condition of the monument has been studied and evaluated from specialized scientists and professors from the National Technical University of Athens in collaboration with the Municipality of Lavrio. The results of the evaluation showed that it is heavily damaged, due to corrosion from the sea environment, natural ageing of the materials and damages it had endured during its operation.

The image we have today of the monument does not depict the scale and the entire operating system of the railway transportation and the embarkment of the mining products to the ships.

The Wharf was actually and is -today- semiologically connecting the mining company and the town of Lavrio via steamboats with the significant ports of the Mediterranean Sea and Europe.

The majority of the population of Lavrio were working in the mining companies. Today at the port of Lavrio, only a small part of the facilities is still standing, including some warehouses and the Wharf, which has become their reference point of valuable historic memory and the landmark that symbolizes the evolution of their homeland that has suffered trying to create a new reality based on its history and civilization.

The Wharf is a monument of industrial, technical, labor, economic and cultural significance which cannot be erased from the life and memories of the people and has to be saved and incorporated in everyday life of the modern era.