Kölner Festungsmuseum

About the museum

Zwischenwerk VIII b (intermediate work VIII b) was built in 1876 as part of the outer fortification ring with which Prussia expanded the Cologne fortress from 1873 onward. The structure near the Rhine riverbank in the south of the city follows the standard type named after fortress architect Biehler: a work surrounded by a moat, with casemates, rampart, and drawbridge. In wartime it was meant to house around 150 soldiers and was equipped with several guns to secure the Rhine valley.

After World War I, Cologne's fortifications had to be demilitarized under the Treaty of Versailles; Zwischenwerk VIII b was partially demolished in 1926. Nevertheless, the moat, casemates, and drawbridge survived relatively intact, giving the work a special status among Cologne's fortress structures. In 1985, the Kunstraum Fuhrwerkswaage set up a sculpture park on and around the site featuring works made of steel, concrete, and earth.

Since 2004, a volunteer friends' association has run the Kölner Festungsmuseum in the casemates. Using plans, display panels, and finds, it documents the inner (from 1815) and outer fortification rings of the Prussian Festung Cöln; the highlight of the tours is a demonstration of the last surviving original drawbridge. For the work's 150th anniversary in 2026, the main construction work on the facade was completed, and a newly designed exhibition on fortress architecture has been announced.

Highlights

• Last surviving original drawbridge of the Cologne fortress, with demonstration
• Walk-through casemates, from the guardroom to the powder magazine
• Exhibition on the inner and outer fortification rings
• Sculpture park on the rampart and in the moat
• Free guided tours by volunteers

Permanent exhibitions

• Die preußische Festung Cöln – Plans, display panels, and objects on Cologne's inner and outer fortification rings, plus a demonstration of the original drawbridge.
• Skulpturenpark am Fort – Since 1985, sculptures made of steel, concrete, and earth have stood on the rampart and in the moat, including works by Ansgar Nierhoff, Lutz Fritsch, and Heinz-Günter Prager.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Kölner Festungsmuseum e. V. (ehrenamtlich)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Guided tours free; donations 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

According to the association, most of the site is accessible by wheelchair, and the entrance area is wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

According to the museum, the tour through the casemates is also suitable for children; there is no minimum age. It is cool in the complex all year round, a jacket is advisable.

Getting there & parking

Location: Militärringstraße at the corner of Konrad-Adenauer-Straße; enter "Kölner Festungsmuseum" in your GPS.

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