German-Polish museum in the former Wilke hat factory, on Guben's town history and the hat industry, with a hat-trying station and hands-on activities.
June 26, 2026 – October 30, 2026
The exhibition covers archaeology and the protection of ground monuments in Guben, including the early history of the town and archaeological finds shown for the first time.
June 10, 2026 – October 26, 2026
A tongue-in-cheek look behind the scenes of the museum’s storage depot: unusual objects, and explanations of how items come into the collection.
The museum stands on the grounds of the former hat factory of Carl Gottlob Wilke, who in the 19th century developed the weatherproof felt hat made from sheep's wool and so laid the foundation for Guben's rise to one of Europe's most important hat-making centers. The listed factory buildings were restored; on July 8, 2006, the Stadt- und Industriemuseum (city and industrial museum) opened here on the Promenade am Dreieck. It replaced the earlier "Technisches Museum der Hutindustrie". The same complex also houses the town hall with its service center, the city library and the music school.
The permanent exhibition covers around 450 square meters and is presented in German and Polish. It is spread across 14 oversized "hoods" that recall hats. They tell the story of Guben's town and industrial history: from its development as a cloth and hat town, through hat making in around 80 steps, to the division of the town along the Neisse River after 1945. A highlight for many visitors is the "Echte Hutprobierstation" (real hat-trying station), where historic headwear can be tried on.
The museum also hosts changing special exhibitions and organizes events including the Museumsnacht (museum night) and an annual Hat Day. The city's museums belong to the municipal administration; they include the Heimatmuseum Sprucker Mühle.
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Full-time students, apprentices, recipients of benefits under SGB II and XII or the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, and volunteers in the FSJ, BFD or voluntary military service |
| Children & teens | €1.50free up to age 5 · Students in grades 1–13 pay €1.50 (€2 with a film screening); children through age 6 enter free. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount is listed. |
| Students & apprentices | €2Reduced rate for full-time students and apprentices (€3 with a film screening). |
| Groups (6+ people) | –Guided tours for 6–20 people by advance registration only. |
| Families | –With the current Brandenburg family pass (Familienpass Brandenburg), up to six children aged 7 to 18 enter free when an adult pays full price. |
The prices listed do not include a film screening; with a film, adults pay €4 and reduced admission is €3. Cards are not accepted in the museum.
For visitor groups with limited mobility, the museum offers digital lecture tours on Guben's history (request required).
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
Family offers, especially during school holidays; year-round there are the real hat-trying station and a museum rally for different age groups.
The museum is on Friedrich-Wilke-Platz, on Gasstraße at the Promenade am Dreieck, in the building complex that also houses the town hall.
Get directionsThe museum hasn’t published any information on this.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A museum rally for different age groups, the film "Wie ein Hut entsteht" (How a Hat Is Made) by advance registration, and museum education projects for schools and kindergartens (fee-based, registration required). The VR glasses exhibition "Altes Handwerk virtuell" is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance. |
