Brikettfabrik Herrmannschacht
Industrial heritage site in Zeitz: the oldest surviving briquette factory in the world, with machinery, a lignite forest nature trail, and a stove exhibition.
About the museum
A coal loading station was first built in 1880/81 at the site on the railway line near Zeitz. In 1889, a briquette factory with two presses and two plate dryers went into operation there, named after the sugar factory director Richard Herrmann. In 1895, a third press and another dryer were added.
The factory ran without fundamental modernization until the end of 1959. As early as 1961 it was placed under heritage protection – one reason why the technology of the first generation of briquette factories has been largely preserved to this day. It is considered the oldest surviving briquette factory in the world.
In 1994, the association Mitteldeutscher Umwelt- und Technikpark was founded, which took over the site and restored it step by step from 1996. In 2009, the Herrmannschacht was included in the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
Today, association members lead tours through the factory buildings, boiler house, and machine park. In addition, a landscaped lignite forest with a nature trail explains how coal was formed, and in the tower house, partially renovated in 2010, a stove exhibition shows cooking ranges and stoves from everyday life in earlier decades. Since 2021 there has been an audio guide with 24 stops.
Highlights
- Original briquette presses and plate dryers from the early days of briquetting
- Steam engine, twin-flue boiler, and transmission system
- Lignite forest with a nature trail on how coal was formed
- Stove exhibition in the tower house
- Model railway through the Zeitz-Weißenfels lignite mining district
Permanent exhibitions
- Rundgang durch die Brikettfabrik – Guided route through the preserved production chain, from coal crushing via dryers and presses to the boiler house, steam engine, and locomotives.
- Braunkohlenwald – Nature trail with planting beds showing how Central German lignite formed from swamp forests of the Tertiary period.
- Ofenausstellung – Collection of coal-fired ranges, stoves, and bath heaters in the tower house, illustrating everyday life with coal as fuel.
- Founded
- 1889
- Operated by
- Mitteldeutscher Umwelt- und Technikpark e.V.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Those entitled to concessions and holders of the volunteer card (Ehrenamtskarte) |
| Children & teens | €2.50 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €6 per person |
| School class (flat rate) | €75 |
All prices include the guided tour (approx. 60 minutes). Payment in cash, by card, or by invoice upon arrangement.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
City bus lines 301 and 303 from Zeitz train station/bus station toward Naumburger Straße
By car
Parking available
Own parking lot on the grounds.
The bus stop is located directly in front of the museum's gate.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 100 guests.
Revierstube next to the factory for conferences and celebrations with 30 to 100 people, including conference technology; weddings in the "Alte Schmiede" (Old Forge); team events with briquette presses and blacksmithing.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | Visits only with a guided tour. In addition, an audio guide with 24 stops via QR code on the grounds; information at the ticket desk in the Revierhaus. |
