Westwallmuseum Konz
Privately run bunker museum in the restored Westwall bunker "Villa Gartenlaube" from 1937 in the middle of Konz – a memorial against war.
About the museum
The bunker in the backyard of Granastraße 25 was built in 1937 as part of the so-called Pionierprogramm (engineer program) of the Westwall, the line of fortifications along the German western border. Unlike most facilities, it was not a standard design but a special construction with a gas lock, a crew room for five soldiers, an ammunition room, and a combat room on top. Its crew gave it the nickname "Villa Gartenlaube" (Garden Arbor Villa). Of the roughly 25 bunkers in what was then the Konz municipal area, almost all were blown up.
After the war, US troops rendered the combat room unusable, and its remains were removed in 1963. Residents then used the bunker as a wood store, and later it was forgotten behind trees and ivy; the armored door was even sealed with concrete in the 1990s.
A private initiative came across the facility in 2012, acquired it in 2014 from the Federal Agency for Real Estate (Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben), and cleared tons of rubble, wood, and metal from the interior. On May 8, 2015, the restored bunker opened as a museum. On display are the original rooms with furnishings as well as an exhibition on the Westwall and the fortification of Konz at the confluence of the Saar and the Moselle.
The team sees the museum as a place of education and as a memorial against war and oppression. A museum festival and several special exhibitions take place in the backyard every year.
Highlights
- Restored Westwall bunker "Villa Gartenlaube" from 1937
- Furnished crew room with gas lock
- Exhibition on the Westwall and the fortress of Konz
- Annual museum festival
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Bunker „Villa Gartenlaube“ und Westwall-Ausstellung – The restored bunker rooms with furnishings convey the daily life of the crew. Additional panels and exhibits explain the Westwall and the fortification of Konz.
- Founded
- 2015
- Operated by
- Private Initiative (Sascha Berweiler)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Visit outside opening hours (individuals and groups) | €5Expense allowance per person |
|---|
Admission is free during regular opening hours. Donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- 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 bunker is not accessible; the special exhibitions in the backyard are accessible.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Konz Mitte · 5-min walk · 100 m
Konz station (Trier–Saarbrücken line) and Konz Mitte stop (Obermosel line), each about a 5-minute walk; Konz-Kreuz stop (Trier–Luxembourg line) about a 10-minute walk.
By car
Parking available
Street parking in front of the museum or behind the Konz town hall.
The entrance is in the backyard of Granastraße 25.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups as well as programs for elementary and secondary schools; arrange dates by phone at 0178 8817014 or by email. |
