Vingaards Officin

About the museum

The name recalls Hans Wyngarthener, a German printer whom the reformer Hans Tausen brought to Viborg in 1528. He set up the city's first print shop there and printed the writings with which Lutheran teaching was spread in Denmark – the name Vingaards Officin goes back to him.

In 1981 three people from Viborg took over parts of the equipment of a closed letterpress print shop in Sønderjylland in order to create a graphic workshop for artists and interested people. In cooperation with the then head of the Viborg Stiftsmuseum, Peter Seeberg, the workshop was attached to the museum and moved several times over the years.

At the end of 2010 the Officin moved into larger premises on Gl. Aarhusvej, where the sponsoring association set up a working museum under the name Vingaards Officin – Bogtrykmuseet Viborg. Since summer 2015 it has been located at Lundvej 8.

The museum shows the everyday life of a print shop in the middle of the 20th century: hand composing room, machine composing with Intertype, Monotype and Typograph machines, type foundry, print shop, bookbinding and a workshop in which the machines are repaired and restored. On loan from the Nationalmuseet, the oldest letterpress printing press in Denmark stands here. The house is run by volunteers with expert knowledge, and many machines are still in working order.

Highlights

• Oldest letterpress printing press in Denmark (on loan from the Nationalmuseet)
• Working typesetting machines by Intertype, Monotype and Typograph
• Hand composing room, type foundry, print shop and bookbinding
• Demonstrations by volunteer experts
• Educational workshop for children and young people

Permanent exhibitions

• Arbeitende Buchdruckerei – Composing room, machine composing, type foundry, print shop and bookbinding in the condition of a print shop around 1950, with demonstrations on working machines.

Operated by

Verein Vingaards Officin (Ehrenamtliche)

Admission & discounts

Members of the sponsoring association have free admission. Admission fees go toward preserving the historic machines.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

In the historic rooms, access by wheelchair or walker may be limited; the museum asks that you contact them beforehand.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

In the educational workshop, children and young people can get to know the old techniques and try them out themselves; workshops, printing demonstrations and lessons by arrangement; on event days you can print yourself.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located right next to the Viborg Miniby.

Amenities & dining

Small printed items and souvenirs are sold at special events.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit