Druckereimuseum WEISS

About the museum

The printing museum belongs to the WEISS Group, a printing and publishing company based in Monschau. It is located in the Imgenbroich district, in a modern round building, and takes visitors through the development of printing technology: from Chinese characters more than 5,000 years old and Egyptian hieroglyphs, past Gutenberg's first printing press more than 550 years ago, to today's ultramodern web offset printing.

The exhibition begins by asking what life would be like without letterpress printing. It works audiovisually and with hands-on experiences: old machines may be touched, visitors can make their own printing diploma, and a type case shows how typesetters once worked. An audio guide accompanies the tour.

The upper floor houses the multimedia room "Im Tiegel" and a museum bistro. The room is used for seminars, conferences, and celebrations, and from October to March a cinema program takes place here. For school classes, there are workshops on book-making and papyrus.

Highlights

• Timeline from hieroglyphs to web offset printing
• Historic printing machines you can touch
• Printing diploma on the historic "Nudel" ("noodle") press
• Type case and hands-on stations
• Museum cinema from October to March

Permanent exhibition

• Zeitreise durch die Geschichte des Drucks – From early writing systems through Gutenberg's printing press to modern web offset printing; visitors can see old machines, a type case, and hands-on stations.

Operated by

WEISS-Gruppe

Admission & discounts

Admission on opening days includes the free guided tour at 14:00. Cinema tickets are available online only; there is no box office on site.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Touching is explicitly welcome in many places. For groups and school classes there are the workshops "Wie entsteht ein Buch?" ("How Is a Book Made?", recommended for ages 5 to 12) and "Papyruspapier selbst herstellen" ("Making Papyrus Paper Yourself," ages 10 to 12). In the museum cinema, children's and family films are shown on Sundays.

Getting there & parking

Address: Am Handwerkerzentrum 16, 52156 Monschau.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Museum bistro on the upper floor; drinks and snacks are available before cinema screenings.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 46 guests.

Multimedia room "Im Tiegel" with up to 46 seats, media technology, and internet access, for seminars, receptions, lectures, company events, and family celebrations. Rental includes technology, staff, and final cleaning: half day (up to 4 hours) €250, full day (up to 8 hours) €450, plus VAT.

Plan your visit