Tuchfabrik Gebr. Pfau

About the museum

In 1859, Friedrich and Antonie Pfau founded a hand-weaving workshop in Crimmitschau. In 1885, a new factory building with a boiler house and chimney was built at the corner of Leipziger Straße and Sahntalstraße, combining all steps of woolen cloth production. After a major fire in 1899, the sons Otto and Adolph rebuilt the business under the name Gebr. Pfau; in 1916 the purchase of a neighboring spinning mill and dye works doubled the site. The workforce took part in the great Crimmitschau textile workers' strike of 1903/04.

In East Germany, the family business had to accept state participation in 1957, was nationalized in 1972 as VEB Modetuche and became part of VEB Volltuchwerke Crimmitschau in 1974. Production ended in 1990; the buildings and machines were placed under heritage protection as an ensemble, and planning for a museum began. A friends' association was founded in 1993, the city bought the site in 1995, and renovation began in 1996. Since 1999, the Zweckverband Sächsisches Industriemuseum (Saxon Industrial Museum association) has run the factory with its own staff; until 2012 it was called the Westsächsisches Textilmuseum.

What makes it special is the largely original stock of buildings and machines, a large part of which still runs and is demonstrated on tours. In 2020 the factory was the venue of the 4th Saxon State Exhibition on industrial culture. In May 2024, the permanent exhibition "Textil. Welt. Stadt Crimmitschau" opened, combining raw materials, techniques, East German fashion and the city's history – so the cloth factory also takes on the role of a city museum.

Highlights

• Originally preserved full cloth factory with running textile machines
• Factory tour with machine demonstration, with the steam engine on Fridays
• Permanent exhibition "Textil. Welt. Stadt Crimmitschau" with East German fashion
• History of the Crimmitschau textile workers' strike of 1903/04
• Dyers' garden with historic dye plants

Permanent exhibitions

• Textil. Welt. Stadt Crimmitschau – Exhibition covering 400 m² on textile raw materials, production techniques and East German fashion, linked with the city's history from the textile pioneer Oehler through the 1903/04 strike to today's textile industry.
• Fabrikrundgang mit Maschinenvorführung – Guided walk through the original machine rooms from wool tufts to finished cloth, with a demonstration of the historic machines.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Zweckverband Sächsisches Industriemuseum

Admission & discounts

Also free: supervisors of children's and school groups, members of the Museumsbund and ICOM, and of the friends' association. Workshops cost €8 (up to 120 minutes) or €15 (120–200 minutes) in addition to admission, reduced €5 or €10; a vacation day €8.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The spinning mill building with the permanent exhibition can be reached without steps via ramps or elevator (doors mostly not automatic), with a tactile floor guidance system, pyramid and Braille lettering, and an accessible restroom. Tactile model of the entire complex in front of the spinning mill building. Tours for people with visual or cognitive impairments. Parking directly next to the entrance; the event room in the weaving mill can be reached by ramp.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The permanent exhibition offers films as well as audio and hands-on stations. Workshops such as "Schafwiese" (weaving in a playful way) or on industrialization, a GPS rally through the city and a vacation program with registration; the museum rally is possible during vacations without registration.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is on Sahntalstraße. By car via the A4, exits Schmölln or Meerane.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum cafe in the spinning mill building with coffee, non-alcoholic drinks, cake and ice cream, with seating in the dyers' garden in nice weather. Museum shop with gifts and literature on the textile industry and city history. Bags larger than A4 and wet clothing must stay in cloakroom lockers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Museum cafe in the spinning mill building (approx. 100 m², only outside opening hours), Saal Schererei in the weaving mill (approx. 230 m²) and a small meeting room; birthdays, conferences, company parties and weddings, with a guided tour on request.

Plan your visit