Light art museum in the underground cooling cellars of the former Lindenbrauerei in Unna, with room-sized installations by Turrell, Eliasson, Horn and others.
June 13, 2026 – January 10, 2027
Around 20 light works from the Sindelfingen collection, including pieces by Dan Flavin, Tracey Emin and Brigitte Kowanz, enter into dialogue with Unna's own holdings. Organized by form, color and sign, the exhibition shows how light shapes spaces, creates moods and carries meaning.
The Lindenbrauerei brewery in Unna was founded in 1859 and stopped brewing in 1979 because it could no longer compete with the big corporations. The site was then converted into a cultural and communication center; visible from afar is the 52-meter chimney bearing Mario Merz's illuminated numbers of the Fibonacci sequence.
In 2001 the Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst moved into the former cooling cellars, fermentation tanks and passageways about ten meters underground – by its own account the first museum in the world devoted entirely to light art. Across roughly 2,600 square meters, many works were created specifically for these spaces, so that art and industrial architecture blend closely. Since 2002 the museum has been run by a nonprofit association.
The collection includes permanent installations by more than 20 international artists, among them Christian Boltanski, Olafur Eliasson, Rebecca Horn, Joseph Kosuth, Mischa Kuball, Christina Kubisch, François Morellet and Keith Sonnier. James Turrell is represented by the light space “Floater 99” and the Skyspace “Third Breath,” opened in 2009. Temporary exhibitions, the International Light Art Award and the regional network “Hellweg – ein Lichtweg” make the museum a center of expertise for light art. In 2026 the museum celebrates its 25th anniversary.
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8.50School students, university students, Art-Card holders, federal volunteer service participants, people receiving social assistance, holders of the Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card), Stadtwerke Unna Card |
| Children & teens | €8.50free up to age 10 · Accompanied children up to age 10 free; school students pay the reduced price |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · No specific discount listed; companion free with the “B” marker |
| Students & apprentices | €8.50 |
| Groups | –Private group tour (approx. 90 min.) flat rate: up to 10 people €200, up to 20 people €300, up to 40 people €550; surcharges for the Skyspace (€60), Mondays and foreign languages (€20 each); 20% discount for university and vocational school groups |
| Families | –No family ticket; special family tours for children up to age 12 |
| Offene Begehung (open walk-through without a guide, once a month) | €14 |
| Skyspace tour at dusk | €12approx. 75 minutes |
| Thirsty Thursdays (after-work tour) | €1790–120 minutes |
| Public photography tour | €35120 minutes, cameras and tripods allowed |
| RuhrTopCard surcharge during temporary exhibitions | €3 |
Prices “up to €15” depending on the format; combination ticket with Haus Opherdicke on the day of the open walk-through. Free with ICOM, RuhrKulturCard, and for members of the Lichtkunstzentrum and the RuhrKunstMuseen. Cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
The museum is reachable by elevator; the floor is uneven, and some installations are accessible only via stairs. Portable museum stools are available. Flickering light effects can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 10 |
|---|
Family tour specially for children up to age 12 through the underground vaults; holiday workshops and children's birthday parties. Strollers cannot be brought into the museum; a baby carrier is recommended for toddlers.
From Unna Hbf by bus C 40 or C 42; alternatively about 15 minutes on foot via Bahnhofstraße, Markt, and Massener Straße.
Parking available
The museum recommends the parking garage "Massener Straße".
GPS destination: Massener Straße 31 (Lindenplatz is unknown to many devices); on site, follow the "Lindenbrauerei" signs.
Get directionsBags and backpacks larger than A4 must go in lockers.
Private events in the Säulenkeller (pillared cellar) on request; civil and non-religious wedding ceremonies in the Säulenkeller ten meters underground.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | On public tours, photography with a smartphone without flash is allowed; special photography tours are offered for cameras and tripods. |
| Good to know | Free audioguide as a smartphone app (bring your own headphones). Book private tours in German, English, and French at least four weeks in advance. |
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