Mastodawn

I am planning a trip to Germany (especially South Germany) in a few months. If you have any recommendations for tech history, museums, industrial sites, nerdy things, I would appreciate them.

Stuff like Deutsches Museum, the cool train in Wuppertal, Arithmeum and Analog Computer Museum, ZKM, Landschaftspark… Anti-recommendations (“overrated,” “not worth the time”) are also welcome.

Thank you in advance!

Yves Van Goethem

@mwichary If you're near Wuppertal, then Zeche Zollverein in Essen is quite nice: https://www.zollverein.de/zollverein-unesco-world-heritage-site

Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site - Zollverein

Zollverein

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@yvg Oh my god, this is perfect. I was just thinking of wanting to learn more about the Ruhr area.

@mwichary @yvg I second that recommendation. On "Zollverein" also worth a visit the
Red Dot Design Museum:
https://www.red-dot-design-museum.org/essen

Essen - Red Dot Design Museum

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@micron Thanks!

Zeche Zollverein is great. Additionaly I would recommend

https://apx.lvr.de/en/index.html

and

https://landschaftspark.de/en/

Wish you a nice time in Germany.

Welcome to the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten! - APX

Welcome to the LVR Archaeological Park Xanten! The park is the largest archaeological open-air museum in Germany. Many replicas, themed pavilions and the LVR Roman Museum illustrate life in the Colonia Ulpia Traiana.

Marcin Wichary Mar 15

@Schmalle Thanks!

Katharina Mar 12

@mwichary @yvg If you are planning to visit the Ruhr area, the "Route Industriekultur" is a great ressource to check. Pretty much everything I know on this list is super interesting to visit and the industrial heritage sites very well preserved.
https://www.route-industriekultur.ruhr/

(edit: Typo)

Marcin Wichary Mar 15

@katharina_mueller Thank you!

Niklas 🧙Mar 12

@mwichary the tech museum in Sinsheim is always worth a visit (https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/), as well as its a bit less known sibling in Speyer (https://speyer.technik-museum.de/). The University of Stuttgart has a cool little computer museum, but with extremely narrow opening times: https://www.f05.uni-stuttgart.de/informatik/fachbereich/computermuseum/besucherinformation/

Technik Museum Sinsheim

Erleben Sie im Technik Museum Sinsheim die begehbare Concorde, die Tupolev, hunderte Oldtimer, Lokomotiven, Formel-1 Fahrzeuge und vieles mehr!

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@germannukes Thank you! I’ve actually been to Sinsheim ages ago; wonder if it’s worth checking it out again.

TabascoEye Mar 12

@mwichary @germannukes hidden next to the technikmuseum Sinsheim is actually the Fördertechnikmuseum which is also fun
https://www.foerdertechnik-museum.de/
In Dortmund, the DASA is insane
https://www.dasa-dortmund.de/

Fördertechnik Museum Sinsheim - ein Erlebnis für Groß & Klein

Erleben Sie einen abwechslungsreichen Tag mit spannenden Eindrücken im Fördertechnik Museum Sinsheim. ✓ Familien ✓ Schulklassen ✓ Kindergeburtstage

Fördertechnik-Museum Sinsheim |

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@TabascoEye Thanks! I have actually been to DASA a while back, too!

@mwichary @germannukes I wouldn't recommend Sinsheim. Lots of stuff just ... Stowed away.

Check out Nixdorf Museum in Paderborn and Experimenta in Heilbronn.

Marcin Wichary Mar 13

@Laird_Dave Thanks!

@germannukes @mwichary
Sinsheim felt a bit underwhelming to me to be honest. Many exhibits and surely a lot of them interesting, but they mostly failed to tell any stories with it.
My experience was a lot of "this is car/tank/plane XYZ from year 19xx with xyz power/cylinders/weight".

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@Domkat Thanks! Appreciate you flagging it.

@Domkat @germannukes @mwichary I would back that opinion: They collect a lot of machines, put some paint on (i. e. not keeping them working, necessarily) and put them in a number of large halls – that’s it, mostly

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@doritc @Domkat @germannukes This can be done well – see https://aresluna.org/fav-tech-museums/#muzeum-techniki-i-komunikacji – but I know what you mean!

Fav tech museums

A photo essay of 20-something best tech museums I’ve been to… and three bad ones

@mwichary @Domkat @germannukes Indeed, „the vehicles are in an absolutely immaculate condition“ makes the difference, i think. Many of the items at Sinsheim (and its associate at Speyer) don‘t look like they are treated with love.

Marcin Wichary Mar 13

@doritc Thanks!

@Domkat @germannukes @mwichary I second that opinion: with the exemption of "Apollo and beyond" in Speyer, both museums are more like parking lots for impressive machines, but do not really explain what one sees.

Marcin Wichary Mar 13

@Habrok42 @Domkat @germannukes Thank you!

D. Schmudde Mar 12

@mwichary How far north might you get?

At the Deutsches Museum you'll want to make sure you check out the Dehomag they have. Quite rare.

There is this museum that I've never been to: https://randoc.wordpress.com/2017/01/15/an-ibm-museum-in-germany/

There's also this, which I haven't visited: https://www.f05.uni-stuttgart.de/informatik/fachbereich/computermuseum/

An IBM Museum in Germany

Lately, I was lucky to visit an IBM museum in Böblingen (near Stuttgart), Germany. I write “an IBM museum”, but actually, it is “the IBM Museum” in Germany although (as far …

Rare & Old Computers

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@schmudde Thanks, these are great! Not sure how far north yet.

Martin Vermeer 86 47 Mar 12

@mwichary The Telegrafenberg campus in Potsdam. Multiple objects of interest.

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@martinvermeer Thank you!

Michael Engel Mar 12

@mwichary ISER at FAU in Erlangen (https://www.iser.fau.de) with the only working Zuse Z23 in the world and many more fascinating items. They are only open occasionally, so check with them before visiting.

More Zuse machines at the Zuse museum in Hünfeld – https://www.zuse-museum-huenfeld.de/de/

Also the computer science museum in Stuttgart – https://www.f05.uni-stuttgart.de/informatik/fachbereich/computermuseum/

ISER – Informatik-Sammlung Erlangen

NEU: Die virtuelle Führungslinie. Ein erster Teil unserer Führungslinie mit Vitrinen und Räumen ist nun unter „Ausstellung“ / „Führungslinie“ online. LINK! Die Informatik-Sammlung Erlangen (ISER) des…

ISER – Informatik-Sammlung Erlangen

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@me_ Thanks so much!!!

@me_ @mwichary not the same, but similar: the HNF in paderborn.
https://www.hnf.de/

HNF - Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum - Weltgrößtes Computermuseum in Paderborn

Das Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum ist das weltgrößte Computermuseum und zudem ein lebendiger Veranstaltungsort in Paderborn.

Marcin Wichary Mar 13

@anton Thanks!

@mwichary If "in a few months" covers June 27, definitely look at the Program of "Extraschicht": https://www.extraschicht.de/

It's basically a night-time opening + extra cultural program at many historic industrial sites in Ruhrgebiet, including formerly mentioned "Zeche Zollverein". (In general, have a look at their list of event locations, many are fascinating museums with regular opening times themselves, like https://henrichshuette.lwl.org/en/ ).

Startseite - ExtraSchicht

Start

ExtraSchicht

@mwichary If it covers Whit Monday, have a look for "Mühlentag" / "Mill Day", where many heritage wind mills, water mills, etc open. https://www.deutsche-muehlen.de/muehlen-erleben/deutscher-muehlentag (unfortunately, they are very bad with presenting a good map of all participating heritage mills)

DGM Webseite: Deutscher Mühlentag

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Mühlenkunde und Mühlenerhaltung

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@ysegrim Ha, jinx.

@mwichary If you happen to pass Dresden:

Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon: Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon

Die Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden zählen zu den bedeutendsten Museen der Welt - 15 Museen bieten eine thematische Vielfalt, die in ihrer Art einzigartig ist.

Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon

Marcin Wichary Mar 15

@ysegrim Thanks!!!

@mwichary Classic music concerts in an Art Deco Hydro powerstation that's still in use in winter: https://www.spannungen.de/

SPANNUNGEN: MUSIK IM RWE-KRAFTWERK HEIMBACH

SPANNUNGEN: MUSIK IM RWE-KRAFTWERK HEIMBACH

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@ysegrim Yes, thanks! I was thinking about it. It will likely be earlier, but maybe I’ll catch Mühlentag.

@mwichary Ah, and since you mentioned Southern parts of Germany -- https://voelklinger-huette.org/ (haven't been there myself yet, though).

@mwichary
It's neither very nerdy nor educational, but quite some fun to visit (particularly with kids): https://www.salzbergwerk.de/en
Also, there is beautiful scenery around, and some… er, say: 'historically interesting' options nearby as well.

Berchtesgaden Salt Mine - The Adventure Mine in Bavaria

The Berchtesgaden salt mine is the oldest active salt mine in Germany. Embark on an exciting journey into the depths of the Alps.

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@lothar Thanks!

@mwichary
DB-Museum in Nürnberg is great if you like trains. They also have one small floor about communication systems (old phones etc.)

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@Domkat Love this. Thanks!!!

@Domkat @mwichary same City, not too far: Deutsches museum Nuremberg.
Where Munich stops, the museum of the future begins.
https://www.deutsches-museum.de/nuernberg

Startseite - Deutsches Museum Nürnberg - Deutsches Museum

Deutsches Museum Nürnberg

Marcin Wichary Mar 13

@anton Thanks!

Hyperbolix Prudens 🎹🖌️⌨️Mar 12

@mwichary I don't know if this is a nerdy thing, but if you are near Valley in Bavaria, have a look at the organ museum: https://lampl-orgelzentrum.com/
They have the largest collection of pipe organs in the world, many of which are in playable condition.

Home - Orgelzentrum Altes Schloss Valley

Orgelzentrum Altes Schloss Valley Willkommen in der größten Orgelsammlung der Welt im Herzen Bayerns Veranstaltungen im Orgelzentrum Besuchen Sie unsere Konzerte, Führungen und Kulturfahrten.

Orgelzentrum Altes Schloss Valley - Dr. Sixtus und Inge Lampl Stiftung

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@hyperbolix Thanks!!!

@mwichary If you're coming to Munich for Deutsches Museum, be aware that there is renovation going on, so you might not see all the exhibits. If you're there around lunchtime and the weather is good, go to the "Frau im Mond" rooftop restaurant, good food, reasonable prices and a great view over the Isar river. Try to also go to the two outposts of the Deutsche Museum: Verkehrszentrum (they have the Ernst Dickmanns autonomous car from the 1990s) and Flugwerft (in the north, they have the Dornier DO 31 VTOL cargo plane)

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@cubeos Thank you!

Tor Lillqvist Mar 12

@mwichary The old iron works in Völklingen, close to Saarbrücken.

https://voelklinger-huette.org/en/weltkulturerbe/orte-und-schauplaetze/

Tor Lillqvist Mar 12

@mwichary Here is a great video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIDlNQ8C5pM

"it’s all the thrills of urban exploration without the danger, the criminal trespassing, and the fear of getting caught (so arguably without three of the thrills of urban exploration)."

The Giant Old Ironworks Anyone Can Explore (Without Getting In Trouble)

YouTube

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@tml Thanks so much! Almost certain I will go there.

Conny Nasch Mar 12

@mwichary Have you thought about hopping over to Luxembourg for a day or two? Klein aber fein, with some very interesting and beautiful sights. I live there 😍

Marcin Wichary Mar 13

@connynasch Are there any specific places you’d recommend?

Conny Nasch Mar 14

@mwichary The city, also called Luxembourg, has some extremely old and interesting areas. Take a look: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_City

Luxembourg City - Wikipedia

Marcin Wichary Mar 15

@connynasch Thanks!

Janneke 🔻 - 🍋 🍉Mar 12

@mwichary the first thing that comes to my mind is the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen!
https://www.zeppelin-museum.de/

Zeppelin Museum

Entdecken Sie das Zeppelin Museum als Ort der Innovationen

@archeokluit @mwichary I grew up in the city, I‘l second the recommendation!

Marcin Wichary Mar 12

@aymm @archeokluit Thanks! For sure on my list!!!

Schnörpsel Mar 12

@mwichary
Very far up north, but...

German Tank Museum in Munster: https://daspanzermuseum.de/

Deutsches Marinemuseum in Wilhemshaven:
https://www.marinemuseum.de/

The famous german Submarine U-995 in Laboe:
https://deutscher-marinebund.de/marine-ehrenmal-u-995/technisches-museum-u-995/

Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster - DPM

DPM

old_school Mar 12

@schnoerpsel @mwichary since last year there is a submarine as well in sinsheim.technik-museum.de/ For prep you could look out for videos on its transport https://u17.technik-museum.de/site-u17/assets/files/1828/u17_bahnuebergang_bad_rappenau_2024_4.webp