Historic hydroelectric power station of Friedrich Engels Sr.'s cotton mill in Engelskirchen – a site of the LVR Industrial Museum, open April to October.
March 29, 2026 – November 1, 2026
Hands-on exhibition in six rooms about the working world of tomorrow, drawing on examples from the history of the labor movement and inviting visitors to discuss and help shape it.
Friedrich Engels Sr., father of the socialist of the same name, founded the Ermen & Engels cotton spinning mill in Engelskirchen in 1837, modeled on English examples. The mill on the banks of the Agger River turned the Oberbergisches Land into a center of the textile industry; in the late 19th century, up to 600 men, women and children worked here. From 1903, the factory's own hydroelectric plant with turbines and generators produced electricity for the mill and at times for parts of the town as well; a steam engine provided additional backup.
When the mill closed in 1979, heritage protection and an award-winning conversion plan from 1986 saved the complex, including the owners' villa, from demolition. The factory buildings were turned into a town hall, apartments and shops. The Landschaftsverband Rheinland (Rhineland regional association) incorporated the site into its Industrial Museum early on and opened the power station as a museum in 1996.
The permanent exhibition spans three levels: in the dimly lit turbine cellar, the flywheel and generator spring into motion during demonstrations, while above them visitors can see the original switchboard and a steam engine. The exhibition also introduces the entrepreneurial family and the contrasting views of Engels father and son on industrialization. A digital heritage trail with 19 stations covers the freely accessible factory grounds. The site also includes the Oelchenshammer, a water-powered forge hammer more than 200 years old, in the district of Bickenbach.
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Students, trainees, federal volunteer service participants, people with severe disabilities, recipients of benefits under SGB II and XII (German social welfare codes) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4Reduced admission; LVR benefit recipients and one companion free. |
| Students & apprentices | €4 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5.50 per personSchool and daycare groups free (including accompanying adults). Guided tour for adults (up to 25 people) €60–75 plus admission, for children's and school groups €45, in English €70–85. |
| LVR-Museumskarte (annual pass for all LVR and LWL museums) | €50Partner card €70, students/trainees/federal volunteers €15 |
| NRW-Ehrenamtskarte (North Rhine-Westphalia volunteer card) | €3 |
Free admission: Free admission for everyone every first Friday of the month (except during events).
The price is a combined ticket for the permanent and special exhibitions. Free admission for, among others, refugees, Juleica (youth leader card) holders, ICOM and Museumsbund members, and members of the friends' association. Payment in cash, by Girocard or credit card; tickets also available online.
Elevator to the floor with the ticket desk, shop, special exhibition and the first rooms of the permanent exhibition; the floors of the hydroelectric plant can only be reached by stairs. Cobblestones in the courtyard; if needed, you can drive right up to the door. No accessible restroom, no tactile guidance system for blind visitors. Guided tours with sign language interpretation (costs covered by the LVR) must be booked at least four weeks in advance through Kulturinfo Rheinland.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
According to the museum, fully suitable for families: numerous experiment stations on electricity and renewable energy, in season a "Spürnasen-Rallye" (sleuth scavenger hunt) for families on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Electricity workshop for children and teenagers; children's birthday parties April through October (e.g., "Painting with Light" from age 4).
Bahnhof Engelskirchen · 3-min walk
Engelskirchen station (RB 25), then about a 3-minute walk.
Free parking · 80 m to the entrance
Around 60 free public parking spaces near the entrance; accessible parking spaces including at the municipal administration (Engels-Platz 4), somewhat farther away.
Museum shop with energy games, toys, and literature on the Bergisches Land.
Up to 80 guests.
The Oelchenshammer in Engelskirchen-Bickenbach is available for rent: Jägerhaus for up to 30 people, outdoor grounds for up to 80 people; for celebrations, receptions, conferences and workshops. Weddings via the Engelskirchen registry office.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography for private purposes is permitted without a tripod, artificial lighting or flash; no selfie sticks. Private filming is allowed, but not during guided tours. People may only be photographed with their consent. |
| Good to know | Demonstrations of the turbines and generators in the turbine cellar. Guided tours and programs via Kulturinfo Rheinland (02234 9921-555, info@kulturinfo-rheinland.de); special tours require at least two weeks' notice. Dogs are not allowed except assistance dogs. The factory grounds with the heritage trail are freely accessible year-round. |
Cookies help you use this website. We only load the map and statistics with your consent.
