Wettermuseum Lindenberg

About the museum

Lindenberg has been a center of atmospheric research for more than a hundred years. At today's Meteorological Observatory of the German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst), built up by Richard Aßmann, weather kites and tethered balloons with measuring instruments were sent aloft; in 1919 a kite train reached a record altitude here that has never been surpassed. The great response to the observatory's centenary celebration gave the impetus in 2006 to found the association Wettermuseum e.V.

The first exhibition found space in an annex of the former village school. Little by little the association acquired historic buildings of the former launch site: Balloon Hall 2, built in 1936, was restored in keeping with its heritage status in 2007, and Winch House 2 was made accessible again in 2012. A visitor center, which opened in 2015, was created from a stone barracks of the former radiosonde testing center.

There, the permanent exhibition "Vom Wetter zum Klima" (From Weather to Climate) shows on around 160 square meters how weather observation and measuring technology have developed – from the oldest exhibit, a weekly newspaper from 1774, to today's climate research, often with interactive stations. The balloon hall houses large historic weather kites, tethered balloon technology, and radiosondes, and a climate fence in the garden makes warming since 1905 visible.

Today the volunteer-run museum also sees itself as an extracurricular learning site for climate education and offers numerous programs for daycares and schools. On guided tours, guests can experience the daily launch of a weather balloon at the neighboring observatory.

Highlights

• Historic large meteorological kites in Balloon Hall 2
• Weather balloon launch at the DWD observatory as part of a guided tour
• Climate fence showing annual mean temperatures since 1905
• Video wall with live data from the current radiosonde
• Climate touch station and interactive measuring instruments

Permanent exhibitions

• Vom Wetter zum Klima – Permanent exhibition in the visitor center on about 100 years of weather observation, measuring instruments, and climate change with interactive installations and projections.
• Ballonhalle 2: Drachen, Fesselballons und Radiosonden – The listed hall from 1936 shows historic launch technology, including large weather kites and the development of radiosondes.
• Windenhaus 2 – Rotating winch house from the years around 1936 to 1945, from which kites and tethered balloons were launched on wire cables.

Founded

2006

Operated by

Wettermuseum e.V.

Director

David Gornickel

Admission & discounts

Schools and daycares with a cooperation agreement pay €1 less per child.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Ramps and ground-level access to all buildings and exhibitions. Parts of the exhibition in Braille, selected objects to touch, audio tours for blind and visually impaired guests. Adapted tours and project days for groups with disabilities by arrangement; seating in the exhibition rooms.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Family-friendly, interactive exhibition with experiment and touch stations. During the holidays, programs with weather experiments, crafts, family tours, and weather balloon launches, e.g., from October 12 to 29, 2026, Monday to Thursday 10:00–14:00 (registration required). Radio-play tour for children; museum rally for groups.

Getting there & parking

From the station turn right to the intersection at the level crossing, then right toward Herzberg. School groups should book bus trips in advance with the bus company (03361 55610).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Bistro and ice cream parlor "Millibar2" with terrace; meals for groups by prior arrangement. Museum shop with books, souvenirs, and children's T-shirts. Dogs are allowed in the museum garden but not in the buildings (assistance dogs excepted).

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit