Feuerwehrmuseum Finsterwalde
Museum on the history of the Finsterwalde fire department since 1872 with historic fire engines and equipment in a listed carriage house.
About the museum
The first fire-fighting equipment was already being collected and restored in Finsterwalde from 1970. This led to an exhibition that was housed for a long time in rooms of Finsterwalde Palace – a former cloth factory building that had been converted into a fire station in 1925. In 2026 the museum celebrates its 30th anniversary.
When the palace was converted into the citizen service center of the city administration, the collection moved. For the 140th anniversary of the Finsterwalde fire department, the local fire department association received in June 2012 the carriage house of the so-called Haberland villa on Geschwister-Scholl-Straße, a listed 19th-century manufacturer's villa. The conversion cost around half a million euros, two thirds funded by the federal government and the state; the new museum was inaugurated on January 20, 2013.
On around 350 square meters, the museum shows the development of firefighting in the town and surrounding area since the fire department was founded in June 1872. On display are vehicles such as a tanker fire engine from 1956, a hose truck from 1959 and a Wartburg 353 as a command vehicle, plus hand-pumped fire pumps – the oldest from 1881 –, portable pumps, ladders, breathing apparatus, radio and alarm technology and uniforms. The museum is a municipal institution and is run by volunteers.
Highlights
- Hand-pumped fire pump from 1881 as the oldest piece
- TLF 15 tanker fire engine from 1956 and hose truck from 1959
- Wartburg 353 command vehicle from 1986
- Breathing apparatus, radio and alarm technology from various eras
- Exhibition in the carriage house of a listed manufacturer's villa
Permanent exhibitions
- Geschichte des Feuerlöschwesens in Finsterwalde – Vehicles, fire pumps, ladders, breathing apparatus and alarm technology show the development of the local fire department since 1872.
- Founded
- 1996
- Operated by
- Stadt Finsterwalde, betreut vom örtlichen Feuerwehrverein
- Visitors per year
- approx. 6,238 (2023)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Donations are welcome.
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
Via a separate entrance, the first floor is accessible by wheelchair and stroller.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
Age-appropriate tours for day care centers and school classes; family events such as "Kleine Ostern" (Little Easter) and a Halloween spooky fun event at the museum.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Rue de Montataire · 3-min walk
RE 10 and RE 43 to Finsterwalde station, from there about 20 minutes on foot. From the station/bus station, city bus 551 ("SängerStadtBUS") to Lange Straße (approx. 5 minutes on foot) or PlusBus 579 or lines 550 and 558 to Rue de Montataire (approx. 3 minutes on foot).
By car
Free parking
Free parking on Geschwister-Scholl-Straße and at the Stadtwerke Finsterwalde.
Bicycle racks on the museum grounds.
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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours by arrangement, also for school classes, day care centers, groups and associations; register via the answering machine at 03531 2704, you will receive a call back. |
