Museum Alte Textilfabrik

About the museum

From 1843 to 1906 the building in Weitra was a "k.k. privilegierte Modewarenfabrik" (imperial-royal privileged fashion-goods factory) run by the firm Hackl & Söhne. Where looms, printing tables and embroidery machines once ran, the Museum Alte Textilfabrik was set up in 1990. It is run by the Verein Museum Alte Textilfabrik (association).

The permanent exhibition "Arbeits- und Lebenswelten der Textilindustrie" shows machines and equipment for weaving, dyeing, printing and finishing, and explains the individual work steps. It highlights the interplay between home work and factory work, the economic situation of the industry in the 19th century and the social divide between workers and factory-owning families.

Hand-colored designs for curtains, upholstery fabrics, carpets and fabric patterns document the development of fashion up to the Art Nouveau period. The museum also builds a bridge to the present and compares textile production in the Waldviertel then with today's cheap fashion. Parts of the collection can be viewed online.

Highlights

• Machines and equipment for weaving, dyeing, printing and finishing
• Hand-colored designs for curtains, upholstery and fabric patterns up to Art Nouveau
• Everyday life of worker and factory-owner families around 1900
• Museum shop with crafts and products from the region

Permanent exhibition

• Arbeits- und Lebenswelten der Textilindustrie – Tour through the former factory with machines, work processes and the everyday life of factory and home workers around 1900.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Verein Museum Alte Textilfabrik

Admission & discounts

Children up to age 14 enter free. Members of the association (€20 per year) may visit during regular opening hours without limit.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum database, there is no accessible toilet in the immediate vicinity.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly

Children's tour of the living and working worlds of textile production (ages 6 to 18, about 1.5 hours); accessible with a stroller.

Getting there & parking

Parking available. Information is also provided by the Gästeinformation Weitra (+43 2856 2998).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small museum shop at the entrance with jewelry, thread buttons and wool products from the region, as well as postcards, rag rugs and literature.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit