Deutsches Bimsmuseum
Museum on the site of a disused pumice factory in Kaltenengers, covering pumice mining and the building materials industry in the Neuwied Basin.
About the museum
Pumice, a light, porous volcanic rock from the eruption of the Laacher See volcano, shaped the Neuwied Basin for around 150 years. It was used to make pumice blocks and other building materials; the sector drove industrial building materials production in the region and supplied large quantities of material for reconstruction after World War II.
To preserve this heritage, the association “Kulturelles Erbe der Bimsindustrie” (Cultural Heritage of the Pumice Industry) was founded in February 2011. With the help of many volunteers, it converted the former works site of the pumice company Dott in Kaltenengers into a museum with indoor rooms and an outdoor area, which opened on April 16, 2014. It is one of the information and experience centers of the Vulkanpark in the district of Mayen-Koblenz.
At around 30 stations, the exhibition traces the path from raw material to finished building block: tamping tables and hand-operated block machines, floor-laying machines, mining equipment such as an excavator and a crawler, old scales and boilers, and pumice blocks stacked on traditional drying racks (Arken). Historic photos and eyewitness accounts complement the machinery; modern products up to thermal insulation blocks and applications outside the construction industry are also presented. There are currently no regular opening hours – the museum opens by appointment.
Highlights
- Original machines such as tamping tables and hand-operated block machines
- Mining equipment in the outdoor area, including a Weserhütte excavator and a Hanomag crawler
- Re-created historic construction site
- Pumice blocks on drying racks
- Around 30 stations on 150 years of the pumice industry
Permanent exhibitions
- Vom Naturphänomen zum Wirtschaftswunder – A tour of the former pumice factory with machines, mining equipment and products, explaining the extraction, processing and economic importance of pumice in the Neuwied Basin.
- Founded
- 2014
- Operated by
- Kulturelles Erbe der Bimsindustrie e.V.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4School students, university students, people with disabilities, community service workers |
| Children & teens | €3.50Children up to 16 €3.50; children under 100 cm (3 ft 3 in) tall free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4 |
| Students & apprentices | €4 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €4.50 per person15 people or more: adults €4.50, reduced €3.70, children up to 16 €3.30. Group tour (up to 15 people) €35 plus admission, school class tour €30 plus admission. |
| Families | –Family ticket priced per person: adults €4, children up to 16 €3. |
Gift vouchers available by phone or email.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Playground / play area
Playground at the museum. The website has a children's page with stories about the mascot Benno Bimsstein and a pumice quiz.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kaltenengers-Kirche · 1 km
Bus to the Kaltenengers-Kirche stop (about 1 km); Urmitz Rheinbrücke station is about 1.8 km away.
By car via the B9, exit Industriegebiet Mülheim-Kärlich, turn left at the traffic light and take Rübenacher Straße (K65) to Kaltenengers.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Free audio guide. Book tours and outings for companies, clubs and school classes well in advance by phone or email; teaching materials for teachers on the website. |
