Museum Achse, Rad und Wagen

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to the 1930s, when the Bergische Achsenfabrik in Wiehl, at the suggestion of Fritz Kotz, set up an exhibition room with its own products, historic wagon models, and documents on wagon building. Since 1952 the company, today BPW Bergische Achsen KG, has maintained its own company museum at its headquarters.

The collection has been continuously expanded and today includes prehistoric and ancient exhibits from Europe, Asia, and Africa, prints, teaching models, and complete wagons from the 17th to 20th centuries, as well as historic and modern axles. After a comprehensive modernization, the museum reopened in October 2013.

On about 1,000 square meters, the exhibition leads chronologically through three rooms from the ancient Near East to the company history of BPW after 1948. In the outdoor area stand a forge and carriage sheds with carriages and commercial vehicles; forging demonstrations take place regularly.

Highlights

• Prehistoric and ancient wagon models from Europe, Asia, and Africa
• Carriages of the 19th and early 20th centuries in the carriage sheds
• Truck trailer of 1925 and other commercial vehicles
• Hands-on models of brakes, suspension, steering, and bearings
• Photographs by Ruth Hallensleben from the 1950s
• Forging demonstration on the first Sunday of every month

Permanent exhibitions

• Kultur- und Technikgeschichte des Wagens – Chronological tour from the ancient Near East through antiquity, India, and China to modern times, with coins, prints, and teaching models on carriage technology.
• Wagenbau und Firmengeschichte – Craft trades of wagon building and the development of the Bergische Achsenfabrik, or BPW, from the iron axle to air suspension and disc brakes.
• Remisen und Schmiede – In the outdoor area, carriage sheds show rare carriages and commercial vehicles up to the truck trailer of 1925; demonstrations are held regularly in the forge.

Founded

1952

Operated by

BPW Bergische Achsen KG

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

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

According to its own information, the museum is accessible.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Interactive stations and hands-on models of brakes, suspension, steering, and bearings; forging demonstrations on the first Sunday of the month.

Getting there & parking

Via the A4 (Cologne–Olpe), exit 25 toward Wiehl. The museum is located at the BPW company headquarters in Ohlerhammer.

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