Textildruckmuseum Mittelweiherburg
Museum in the moated castle Mittelweiherburg on block engraving, hand printing and the social history of the Vorarlberg textile industry.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Mittelweiherburg is a small moated castle built around 1570 in the spring area of the Harder Dorfbach. After many changes of ownership, including the Deuring family and a monastery, it became the cradle of the Vorarlberg textile industry from 1794: the manufacturer Samuel Vogel from Alsace set up the first fabric printing works here.
In 1838 the Swiss manufacturer Melchior Jenny acquired the property for the firm Jenny & Schindler, and after 1867 Samuel Schindler continued to run the fabric printing works. In 1880 operations ended in the course of the Dorfbach water dispute "Hell gegen Trüb" (Clear versus Cloudy). Between 1957 and 1962 the building was renovated for the first time and set up as a local history museum.
Since 1997 the building has housed the Textildruckmuseum (Textile Printing Museum). It shows and explains all the techniques of block engraving and printing, including a film on textile hand printing and digitised pattern books. It also covers the social changes brought by industrialisation up to the 1930s: wages, child labour, workers' housing estates and immigration from Trentino, the relationship between immigrants and locals, Vorarlberg's first major ecological conflict, and the decline of the largest company in the town. The museum is run by the municipality of Hard.
Highlights
- Moated castle from around 1570 as the cradle of the Vorarlberg textile industry
- All techniques of block engraving and hand printing
- Film and digitised pattern books on textile hand printing
- Social history of industrialisation up to the 1930s
Permanent exhibition
- Textildruck, Formstechen und Sozialgeschichte – The permanent exhibition shows all the techniques of block engraving and printing and tells the social history of industrialisation in Hard up to the 1930s.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Marktgemeinde Hard
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Seniors |
| Children & teens | €2.50Young people aged 6 to 18 (including school pupils, students, those on military service) |
| Seniors | €4 |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personFrom 10 people: adults €4, seniors €3, school pupils/students/young people €2.50, kindergarten children €2 |
| Families | €7Admission for one family |
| Family pass (whole family) | €4 |
| Booked guided tour (excluding admission) | €25Guided tours for school groups are free |
Free admission with the Kulturpass. 2026 prices.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €7 · Admission for one family |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
There are dedicated tours for kindergartens (with the colour monster Klecksi), primary schools and upper secondary schools, including printing paper bags and patterns.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours with practical exercises usually last about 90 minutes. School, group and private tours (from kindergarten age) are also available at other times by registration; book via +43 676 88697638 or the municipality. For groups of more than 15 children, two cultural educators accompany the tour. |
