Räuchermännchenmuseum Cranzahl
Private folk art museum in an old dye works in Cranzahl with over 3,000 Ore Mountain smoking men from about 100 years.
About the museum
The museum goes back to the idea of giving private collections of Ore Mountain folk art a shared place to be exhibited. Claudio and Bernd Lenk of the Cranzahl arts-and-crafts business Lenk & Sohn converted the upper floor of the former "Alte Färberei" (old dye works) for this purpose and, together with the first lenders, opened the 1st Räuchermann Museum (smoking man museum) in 2012 with initially just over 1,000 figures.
In the opening year itself the first Räuchermannfest took place, with an "old for new" exchange in which visitors could trade old smoking figures for new ones. The event has been repeated every year before the first Advent since then and has steadily grown the collection.
Today more than 3,000 smoking men can be seen on around 200 square meters, showing about a century of figure history and the craft behind it. A film with historic footage from the toy village of Seiffen explains how the turned and painted figures are made, and since 2024 there has been a museum rally. On the first floor is a specialist shop for Ore Mountain folk art, and since 2025 a garden railway exhibition has been shown twice a year.
Highlights
- Over 3,000 smoking men from various lenders and makers
- Film on the making of Ore Mountain folk art
- Museum rally for young and old
- Smoking-man exchange "old for new" on Museum Day before the first Advent
- Garden railway exhibition on selected public holidays
Permanent exhibitions
- Räuchermann-Sammlung – Over 3,000 smoking figures from about 100 years of Ore Mountain folk art, complemented by a film on how they are made.
- Founded
- 2012
- Operated by
- Kunstgewerbe Lenk & Sohn
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
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| Reduced | €4Severely disabled persons with ID |
| Children & teens | €2Child price for ages 6 to 16 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4With severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis) |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4.50 per personFrom 10 adults; bus groups of 40 or more people €4 per person. Please ask about dates in advance. |
| Families | €13Two adults and two children |
Free admission: Free admission on Museum Day (the Saturday before the first Advent)
With the Gästekarte Erzgebirge issued in the guest's name (original, present without being asked): adults €4, children €1.60, reduced €3.20, family ticket €10.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | €13 · Two adults and two children |
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- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
A museum rally with quiz questions accompanies the tour. On Museum Day before the first Advent there is a crafts and painting table for children.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Parking for cars and buses directly at the museum.
By car via the A72 (exit Stollberg-West) and Sehma on Karlsbader Straße to Cranzahl; after the gas station turn right, and after about 150 m you reach the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
On the first floor, a specialist shop for Ore Mountain folk art, including products by Lenk & Sohn.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Larger groups, please register by phone in advance. A film shows how the figures are made. |
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