Karl-Pollender-Stadtmuseum

About the museum

The foundation was laid in 1962 by Karl Pollender, a secondary school teacher and chairman of the local history society: together with friends he set up a local history museum in two rooms of the Altes Amtshaus, showing prehistoric and early historic finds as well as evidence of rural life – a collection he had gathered himself with students and acquaintances.

Because of the great interest, the entire 17th-century half-timbered house was expanded into a city museum between 1977 and 1981 with support from the federal government, the state, and the LWL (Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe). In 2003 an extension with a new entrance, a separate room for a medieval priest's vestment, and a museum garden were added. The silk chasuble had been discovered in 1995 as a grave good during construction work in the St.-Christophorus-Kirche.

From 2020 to 2022 the permanent exhibition was largely redesigned. Today, across about 800 square meters, it leads chronologically through the city's history – from the Middle Ages through mining, the brine spa, and the railway to the present – and devotes its own section to the long-established Sim-Jü fair. The collection comprises more than 5,000 objects. A friends' association founded in 1977 mainly supports programs for children and young people.

Highlights

• Medieval chasuble (Kasel) from the St.-Christophorus-Kirche
• Section on the Sim-Jü fair
• Citizens' room with stories of Werne's residents
• 17th-century half-timbered building Altes Amtshaus
• Prehistoric finds and early modern documents

Permanent exhibitions

• Werner Stadtgeschichte – Chronological walk through almost 1,000 years of city history with a citizens' room, industrialization, mining, the brine spa, and the railway.
• Sim-Jü – A dedicated section on the fair, whose medieval market rights are closely tied to Werne's town charter.
• St. Christophorus und Kasel – A restored medieval chasuble found in 1995 during work in the city church, in its own exhibition room.

Founded

1962

Operated by

Stadt Werne

Director

Flemming N. Feß

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Separate prices apply for individual events, tours, and workshops.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthday parties (2.5 hours, up to 10 children aged 7 to 11, €50 flat rate) with costumes on themes such as knights or town scribes. Daycare programs with hands-on, crafting, and creative elements.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

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