Rheinland-Pfälzisches Feuerwehrmuseum Hermeskeil

About the museum

The roots of the museum go back to 1990, when the Hermeskeil fire brigade got back a former tanker fire engine of its own from 1950 and restored it on its own. Dedicated firefighters then collected further equipment and, from the mid-1990s, set it up in a vacant house at the Hermeskeil train station. In 1999 the fire brigade museum "Feuerpatsche" was officially opened there.

After 16 years of volunteer work, the house had to close in 2006 because of fire safety requirements; the collection moved temporarily to a warehouse in the industrial area. With support from the state and the state fire brigade association, a supporting and operating association was founded in 2007, and in 2010 the town of Hermeskeil decided on a new building, which the state largely funded.

The new house on Neuer Markt opened in April 2014 as the "feuerwehr erlebnis museum". On two floors an interactive course leads through the themes of fire, events, protagonists, activities and tools: visitors operate a historic hand-operated pump, take emergency calls in a reconstructed control center and climb into restored vintage vehicles. An exhibition on the 2021 flood disaster on the Ahr shows, among other things, a fire engine that saved its crew at the time.

Highlights

• Hands-on stations such as a historic hand-operated pump and a control center taking emergency calls
• Restored vintage fire engines you can climb into
• Exhibition on the 2021 flood disaster on the Ahr
• Children's audio guide with "Rita, die rasende Reporterin" (Rita, the Racing Reporter)
• Themed play corner for young visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Feuer, Ereignisse, Protagonisten, Tätigkeiten, Werkzeuge – Interactive tour over two floors from early firefighting to the modern fire brigade, with a control center, an equipment wall and restored vehicles.
• Flutkatastrophe an der Ahr 2021 – Finds from the Ahr valley and the fire engine "Pätti", which saved its crew on the night of the flood, convey the scale of the disaster and the work of the fire brigades.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Förderverein Rheinland-Pfälzisches Feuerwehrmuseum Hermeskeil e.V.

Director

Max Schmitt

Admission & discounts

Tour €40. Children's birthday party €20 in addition to admission; the birthday child has free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Accessible museum, certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All); both floors reachable by elevator, wheelchair-accessible restroom and accessible parking spaces. Dogs are not allowed inside, but can be leashed in front of the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Hands-on stations and vehicles you can climb into, a child-friendly audio guide with "Rita, die rasende Reporterin", a themed play corner and children's and family tours with "Feuerwehrmann Max" (Firefighter Max). Children's birthday parties at a birthday table in the exhibition (bring your own food and drinks).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi (for the audio guide). Museum shop. Seminar room for groups and school classes, for example for a lunch break.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit