Feuerwehrmuseum Kaufbeuren-Ostallgäu

About the museum

The impetus came from Kaufbeuren firefighters who gathered historic equipment and vehicles from 1986. In 1992 the supporting association was founded, and in 1996 the museum opened in the former Spittelmühle. One of the largest pieces of the early years was a complete fire station from Pfronten, which was brought to Kaufbeuren by low-loader.

Because the rooms in the Spittelmühle became too small, the association converted a hall on the grounds of the former Momm spinning and weaving mill from 2016. With more than 10,000 hours of volunteer work, the new museum was created there, opening in June 2017. Since then the emergency vehicles previously stored in the depot can also be seen.

On two floors, firefighting is told from its beginnings into the 20th century: downstairs stand large vehicles such as a Mercedes aerial ladder from 1969 and a Magirus tanker fire engine from 1955, while upstairs a reconstructed old-town set depicts a historic fire call-out. A reconstructed air-raid shelter addresses the period of the Second World War. In 2020 the World Fire Brigades Association CTIF honored the museum; most recently an expanded medieval section with carved dioramas and a hand-pumped fire pump to try out were added.

Highlights

• Historic emergency vehicles, including the DL 30 aerial ladder (1969) and the Magirus TLF 15 tanker fire engine (1955)
• Reconstructed old-town set with a historic fire call-out
• Reconstructed air-raid shelter from the time of the Second World War
• Model of a hand-pumped fire engine to pump yourself
• Children's trail with ten hands-on stations

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte des Feuerwehrwesens – Two floors on firefighting from the Middle Ages to the 20th century – with emergency vehicles of regional fire departments, a section on works fire brigades, dioramas, a reconstructed old town and an air-raid shelter.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Feuerwehrmuseum Kaufbeuren-Ostallgäu e.V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• 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

The upper exhibition rooms can also be reached by wheelchair users via a stair lift.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children's trail for children aged 8 and over: with a participation sheet you visit ten hands-on stations, and anyone who finds the solution word receives a small souvenir at the exit. Family tours during the holidays by registration only; hand-pumped fire pump to try out.

Getting there & parking

By car via the B12, exit Kaufbeuren, then toward the town center. Google Maps currently shows a wrong route – better to use bicycle navigation or the What3words address "ethischer.dorfplatz.bezahlen."

Amenities & 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