Zollmuseum Habkirchen

About the museum

The museum was set up in 1993 by retired customs officer Manfred Nagel – the same year that customs checks at the European Union's internal borders were abolished. It is housed in the former customs office building at the Europäische Freundschaftsbrücke (European Friendship Bridge) over the Blies river, right on the border between Habkirchen in Saarland and Frauenberg in Lorraine. From 1959 to 1964, these rooms were home to a joint German-French customs office.

The exhibition traces the customs history of this border village from the early 18th century, when a trade route from Blieskastel toward Metz and Paris crossed the Blies here. Documents, wanted posters, and warnings about counterfeit money date from this period; a Bavarian border sign recalls the Royal Bavarian secondary customs office after 1816, while other items relate to the Reich customs administration after 1871 and 1935. A popular exhibit is the copy of the passport of Karl Marx, who entered the country via Habkirchen in 1848.

Life-size figures in original uniforms, work equipment, and photos show the everyday life of customs officers up to 1993; one section is devoted to the work of customs today – from product piracy and drug and cigarette smuggling to wildlife protection. The collection is rounded out by equipment used by East German (GDR) border customs officers and a piece of the Berlin Wall. The museum is run by volunteers; according to its own figures, it welcomes 1,500 to 2,000 visitors a year.

Highlights

• Copy of Karl Marx's passport with a stamp from the Habkirchen customs office (1848)
• Bavarian border sign from around 1820
• Life-size figures in historical customs uniforms
• Confiscated contraband and counterfeit products
• East German (GDR) border section with an original piece of the Wall

Permanent exhibitions

• Zollgeschichte an der deutsch-französischen Grenze – Documents, border signs, uniforms, and work equipment tell the story of three centuries of everyday life at the border and in customs between Habkirchen and Frauenberg, as well as the tasks of customs today.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Heimat- und Geschichtsverein Mandelbach-Habkirchen (ehrenamtlich)

Director

Franz-Josef Fries

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission and free guided tours.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

Directly at the German-French Friendship Bridge.

Amenities & 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