Kékfestő Múzeum

About the museum

The Kluge family began indigo printing in Sárvár at the end of the 18th century and moved to Pápa in 1786. The present workshop buildings and the dwelling house were built in the middle of the 19th century; the workshop ceased operation in 1959. Heritage protection recognised the outstanding value of the ensemble already in the 1950s, and it was declared protected in 1954.

Through the cooperation of textile specialists and the town, the workshop became a museum, which opened its doors on 2 August 1962. The Hungarian tradition of indigo printing was added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018, as part of a joint European nomination.

Visitors can follow how white cloth becomes printed indigo fabric, from cellar to attic: they can see the preparatory and pattern-making workshop, the laboratory, the sixteen-vat dye room (küpaszoba) and the drying loft. In the cellar stands the huge mangle driven by Samu, the last mangling horse; among the machines of the former small factory stands also a steam engine. On the drying loft, the upholstery by the applied artist Bódy Irén, which uses indigo-printed patterns in a new way, can also be seen. During the museum's programmes, guests can try pattern-printing themselves.

Highlights

• The only indigo-printing workshop in Central Europe that survives with its complete original fittings and is open to visitors
• Sixteen-vat dye room and drying loft
• Horse-driven mangle and steam engine
• Indigo-printed upholstery by applied artist Bódy Irén
• Pattern-printing with positive pressure, with a souvenir you make yourself

Permanent exhibition

• Kékfestő Múzeum – állandó kiállítás – The fully preserved indigo-printing workshop of the Kluge family: the pattern-making room, the dye room, the laboratory, the drying loft, the machines of the small factory and the horse-driven mangle in the cellar.

Founded

1962

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On 15 March, 20 August and 23 October the exhibitions are free (a HUF 400 technical ticket is payable). On the first Sunday of every month, the permanent exhibition is free for EEA citizens under 26 and their companions under 18.

Payment by bank card, cash and SZÉP card; euros are not accepted. Discounts cannot be combined.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

The museum building is partly barrier-free: visitors with reduced mobility can see part of the ground-floor exhibition and the horse-driven mangle. A disabled parking space is on Jókai utca, a few tens of metres from the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Age-appropriate museum education sessions for 5–18-year-olds, a summer camp, and pattern-printing with positive pressure. Because of the nature of the buildings, only part of the exhibitions can be visited with a pushchair.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands on Március 15. tér, opposite the Reformed church. Bicycles can be parked in limited numbers in the entrance passage.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check: not available

There is no separate cloakroom; larger bags can be left at the cash desk. Food and drink may only be consumed in the museum garden, at the designated place.

Events & venue rental

Wedding photography is possible within the museum's walls and in its courtyard, by individual agreement.

Plan your visit