Stadt- und Dampfmaschinenmuseum Werdau

About the museum

The museum is housed in the so-called Baumgartsches Haus, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Werdau. It was built in 1781 as a residence for Friedrich August Baumgarten, an ancestor of the airship pioneer Georg Baumgarten. In 1809 it served for a few days as quarters for the Napoleonic King Jérôme Bonaparte. Today the museum shares the building with the city library.

Among the oldest pieces in the collection is the Egidienstein of 1480, which once sat on a bastion of the city wall and has been on display in the museum since 1916. The city history ranges from archaeological finds from the founding period to a detailed model showing Werdau in 1628 with its town hall, palace, Marienkirche and city wall. A special focus is the porcelain of the Fraureuth porcelain factory, founded in 1868 and closed in 1926, of which the museum, by its own account, holds the largest collection in Germany.

In 2003 the building was thoroughly renovated. In the spacious museum garden and the adjoining engine house, industrial history comes to life: a 600 hp steam engine from 1899 still stands there in its original place and can be demonstrated under electric drive. There are also a smaller steam engine from Adorf, a steam hammer, a walk-in fireless steam locomotive, a field railway and a 1:20 scale garden railway with more than 300 meters of track, which runs from May to October. The museum is also known for events such as the IFA vintage vehicle meeting, the garden railway meeting and the Werdauer Dampftag (steam day).

Highlights

• 600 hp steam engine from 1899 at its original location in the engine house
• Large collection of Fraureuth porcelain
• Town model of Werdau in 1628
• 1:20 scale garden railway in the museum garden (May through October)
• Walk-in fireless steam locomotive and steam hammer in the outdoor area
• Werdauer Krippenweg (Nativity scene trail) during the Christmas season

Permanent exhibitions

• Stadtgeschichte Werdau – From archaeological finds of the founding period and the Egidienstein of 1480 to the town model showing Werdau in 1628.
• Fraureuther Porzellan – A selection from the extensive collection on the Fraureuth porcelain factory, which existed from 1868 to 1926 and was known for its art department.
• Dampfmaschinenhaus und Museumsgarten – 600 hp steam engine from 1899 in the original engine house as well as a single-cylinder steam engine, steam hammer, fireless steam locomotive, field railway and garden railway in the outdoor area.

Operated by

Stadt Werdau

Director

Markus Döscher

Admission & discounts

Holders of a valid library card of the Stadtbibliothek Werdau can attend selected museum events (at most two per year) free of charge.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

A garden railway runs in the museum garden from May to October, and a fireless steam locomotive can be entered. There are activities for children at events such as International Museum Day, the steam day or the Santa's workshop in Advent.

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

Only cash payment is possible in the museum.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit