Tabakmuseum Vierraden

About the museum

In a heritage-listed, three-story tobacco-drying barn in Vierraden, the museum presents the roughly 300-year cultural history of tobacco growing in the Uckermark, including themes such as the Huguenots. Between 1998 and 2000 the barn was converted into a museum with funds from the European Union, the State of Brandenburg, and the Uckermark district; since 2003 the city of Schwedt/Oder has been the sponsoring body.

On 500 square meters of exhibition space, the museum covers the growing, trade, and processing of tobacco, such as snuff and chewing tobacco, customs and smuggling, the planter's year, and drying under the roof. A separate area is devoted to not smoking and its health consequences.

The outdoor area of more than 1,400 square meters is the heart of the museum: demonstration beds with different tobacco varieties, a collection of machines and equipment, a herb garden, and a playground. Because the building cannot be heated apart from the office, and the beds can only be seen in summer, the museum is open seasonally from May to September. The exhibition is also available in English and Polish.

Highlights

• Cultural history of tobacco growing in the Uckermark
• Tobacco drying under the roof of the heritage-listed barn
• Demonstration beds with tobacco varieties and machinery in the outdoor area
• Exhibition area "Nichtraucher schmecken besser"
• Exhibition also available in English and Polish
• Pilgrim stamp on the Way of St. James (Jakobsweg)

Permanent exhibitions

• Tabak in der Uckermark – Dauerausstellung – Cultural history of tobacco growing, trade, and processing on 500 m², from customs and smuggling to drying under the roof.
• Nichtraucher schmecken besser – Exhibition area on the consequences of smoking and secondhand smoke, with short films and arguments for not smoking.
• Schaugarten und Maschinenpark – Outdoor area with demonstration beds of different tobacco varieties, historical farm machinery, and a herb garden (season only).

Operated by

Städtische Museen Schwedt/Oder (Stadt Schwedt/Oder)

Admission & discounts

Admission is also free for tour guides and supervisors or kindergarten teachers accompanying groups, school classes during lessons, members of ICOM and the Deutscher Museumsbund (German Museums Association), press, and recipients of Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance), Grundsicherung (basic income support), and benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. Material costs are charged according to effort.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

The first floor with the special exhibition area and the outdoor area are accessible; according to the museum, the building as a whole is not accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

The museum does not see itself as a "Rauchermuseum" (smokers' museum), but as a place for botany, rural life, and regional history. Holiday and school programs (e.g., herb cooking, the Vierradener Rallye with tablets as a GPS scavenger hunt, project days from grade 5); playground, herb garden, and frog pond in the outdoor area. Please register at least one week in advance.

Getting there & parking

The museum is right on the Way of St. James, where there is a pilgrim stamp.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with publications from the municipal museums on the first floor; ticket desk on the first floor.

Events & venue rental

The reconstructed wooden barn in the outdoor area is used for concerts, lectures, and group meetings; the garden is used for parties and events.

Plan your visit