Saurer Museum

About the museum

Arbon was the seat of the Saurer company, known for its robust, long-lasting commercial vehicles and for its embroidery and weaving machines. A first display of Saurer products was created in 1993. With the support of the Oldtimer Club Saurer (OCS), founded by former employees in 1981, the museum moved in 2010 into better-suited premises on Weitegasse on the lakeshore.

Today the Saurer Museum am See presents around 20 historic vehicles of all kinds: trucks, buses, military vehicles, as well as fire engines and post buses. The range extends from the oldest Saurer truck, the "Caminhao" built in Arbon in 1911 and later brought back from Brazil, to vehicles of the D-generation. There is also an extensive engine exhibition. In the textile machinery area, embroidery machines from the three pioneering generations and weaving machines of various designs are on show; they are in working order and run during guided tours.

The museum is complemented by the Saurer Museum DEPOT in the former press works on the WerkZwei site behind the station, which was inaugurated in September 2017 and has been open to visitors since April 2018. Further vehicles, machines, engines and spare parts are stored there in a hall more than a hundred years old. Both houses are run exclusively by volunteers from the OCS, who have been awarded the European Silletto Prize for this work.

Highlights

• Around 20 historic Saurer vehicles, from trucks to post buses
• The "Caminhao" of 1911, the oldest Saurer truck
• Extensive engine exhibition
• Working embroidery and weaving machines, running during guided tours
• Depot with more vehicles in the former press works (WerkZwei)
• Run exclusively by volunteers

Permanent exhibitions

• Saurer Museum am See: Fahrzeuge, Motoren und Textilmaschinen – Around 20 vehicles from the 1911 truck to the D-generation, an extensive engine exhibition, and working embroidery and weaving machines built in Arbon.
• Saurer Museum DEPOT – Further vehicles, machines, engines, a hand embroidery machine, one of the first gripper weaving machines, and spare parts in a hall more than a hundred years old.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Oldtimer Club Saurer (OCS)

Director

Armin Kneubühler

Admission & discounts

Members of the Oldtimer Club Saurer have free admission. Tickets for the main museum are available at the ticket machine in front of the museum by the Saurer Garden.

Accessibility

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

The Saurer Museum am See is set up for wheelchair users, including the restroom. Dogs are welcome on a leash and if well behaved. In the depot, the restroom is not wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

Children and young people under 16 have free admission when accompanied by adults.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the Saurer Museum am See faces the lake, about 150 meters from the swimming pool toward the station or the harbor. The depot is behind the station in the WerkZwei site, Hamelstrasse 15, opposite the Hamel building.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Saurer Garden (museum café) with terrace and a converted post bus café directly in front of the museum; souvenirs made in-house in the museum shop. At the depot are the restaurant PRESSWERK and the Chocolaterie Kölbener.

Events & venue rental

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

Aperitifs in the museum foyer, in the Saurer Garden or in the depot (arranged through the restaurant PRESSWERK); the Saurer Garden can be reserved for celebrations and corporate events.

Plan your visit