Zylinderhaus

About the museum

The Zylinderhaus goes back to the entrepreneur Bernd Benninghoven, who had previously built the Benarrow small car. The foundation was the collection of the Auto Union Museum in Bergen, the Netherlands, which he took over after its closure in 2014: mainly vehicles of the DKW brand. Further cars and motorcycles from Germany and Austria were added selectively.

A new building was constructed in Kues for the collection; its brick facade is reminiscent of Gründerzeit buildings, while inside, modern exhibition spaces are spread over three levels and about 5,000 square meters. After several postponements, the museum opened on October 14, 2017; the building also includes a restaurant with a beer garden as well as conference and event rooms.

The exhibition spans about 90 years of German vehicle history, from the Horch eight-cylinder of the 1930s through small cars such as the Goggomobil and Isetta to models of the 1970s. Brands such as Audi, BMW, Borgward, DKW, Mercedes-Benz, NSU, Opel, VW, and Wanderer are represented with many examples, along with motorcycles, mopeds, and vans.

A special feature is the "Zugabe" (encore): reconstructed street scenes with a gas station, a corner grocery store (Tante-Emma-Laden), pharmacy, driving school, coffee roastery, and other shops that show everyday life in the postwar decades. Stories about the exhibits were published in 2019 as a book about the museum.

Highlights

• Over 150 classic cars, mainly German brands from the 1930s to the 1970s
• About 100 motorcycles and two-wheelers
• Horch eight-cylinder from 1937 and DKW Monza from 1957
• Reconstructed shops and street scenes of the economic miracle era
• Museum restaurant with a beer garden

Permanent exhibitions

• Die Stars – 90 Jahre deutsche Automobilgeschichte – On three levels stand cars, motorcycles, and vans from the 1930s to the 1970s, from luxury cars to small cars of the economic miracle.
• Die Zugabe – Alltag von damals – Reconstructed streets with a gas station, corner grocery store, pharmacy, driving school, photo shop, and electronics store bring the postwar decades to life.

Founded

2017

Operated by

BIVM GmbH & Co. KG

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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

Paths, museum, and restaurant are accessible, all rooms are reachable by wheelchair; accessible parking spaces directly in front of the entrance. Guide dogs are permitted; assistance and support dogs only with a valid ID; other animals are not permitted in the museum.

Kids & families

Children under 8 years have free admission; family ticket for 2 adults with their own children.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Zylinderhaus Restaurant with a beer garden (dogs on leash allowed), table reservations at 06531 9721910; museum shop.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 300 guests.

Restaurant as well as conference and event area with up to 300 seats for conferences, celebrations, banquets, and weddings; inquiries for 30 or more people via the event form.

Plan your visit