The LWL open-air museum in Hagen is one of the few pure technology museums in Germany. The LWL open-air museum combines sensory experience with knowledge gain. The museum offers you an insight into the crafts and technology of the 18th and 19th centuries, making it one of the few purely technical museums in Germany. Various trades from the fields of iron, printing and paper, wood, stone, ceramics and glass, food and luxury foods as well as fibers, leather and hides have been faithfully reconstructed in half-timbered houses.

LWL-Freilichtmuseum Hagen - Westphalian State Museum of Crafts and Technology

A visit to the LWL Open-Air Museum in Hagen is like a journey through time into the world of 18th and 19th century craftsmanship and technology. A unique blend of knowledge and experience unfolds here. Authentic half-timbered houses are home to traditional trades from the fields of iron, printing, paper, wood and more. The opportunity to watch the craftspeople at work is almost magnetic: Blacksmiths spraying sparks, the clouds of scent from old ovens or the mysterious art of paper-making.

Experience living history

Around 60 workshops offer fascinating insights into almost forgotten techniques. Watch how ropes, cigars or nails are made - everything is made here as it was in the past. The fire blazes in the forge, while elsewhere mill wheels are driven by the stream and set heavy machinery in motion. A rich variety of special exhibitions and photo documentaries delve deeper into historical trades and their significance.

Charming excursions into the past

Framed by the idyllic Mäckingerbach valley, the museum's scenery impresses with its rustic half-timbered buildings and medieval charm. Guided tours are perfect for school classes and groups, as they make history tangible. And who can resist a traditional, atmospheric Christmas market that immerses the backdrop of the museum in a magical pre-Christmas season? With its atmospheric lighting and lovingly decorated stalls, it promises an all-round sensory experience.