Knappenrode Energy Museum

State-of-the-art exhibition worlds of light, metal and glass meet brick-red industrial culture at the Knappnrode energy factory:
The 100-year-old briquette factory shows how the Lusatian lignite mining region has developed. From the first pre-industrial spades to a forward-looking holiday and energy region.
The listed buildings of the energy factory serve as an impressive backdrop on the journey through time. The briquette factory and the adjoining housing estate become a symbol for the history of upswing, loss and hope of an entire region. The exhibition proceeds in stages from the pre-industrial Sorbian countryside to the economic boom of lignite at the beginning of the 20th century. On to the role of the factory in times of war and crisis and as the energy centre of the GDR, and finally to the shaping of the Lusatian Lakeland with current issues of the energy transition. The focus is on the people and their relationship to culture, tradition, politics and work.
High above the factory's roofs, the new Lausitz.Blick offers a magnificent view over the changing landscape. Here you can experience a journey through time with your senses - seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling.
The concept of history that can be experienced continues on the Factory.Experience.Tour. On the way through the factory, former workers have their say and the smell of coal dust and machine oil still hangs between the original machines. Three times a day the factory siren calls for a shift and the machines acoustically come to life.
On the former factory premises, the path of the lignite can be retraced with the help of authentic large-scale opencast mining equipment, dewatering technology and rail vehicles.

A trolley ride on the museum track
On the narrow-gauge tracks of the old coal link railway, you can whizz along the tracks on a trolley, driven by pure muscle power.
Rides take place from around April to October between 11 am and 4 pm (last start of a ride) and only in good weather.

Knappenrode Energy Factory for playful explorers!
Both in the exhibition and on the outdoor grounds, little miners will get their money's worth with hands-on activities, a labyrinth, tunnel slide and boulder pyramid. Those who need a break after so much history and stories can fortify themselves in the bistro in the foyer between the boats of the new landscape. By the way, not only visitors can refuel, but also cars and bicycles. There are charging stations for them in the new car park. Before heading home again, the museum shop has a range of beautiful and informative items about coal, mining and Lusatia.

Tips:
Also find out about the varied photo, art and special exhibitions at the energy factory, which open up fresh perspectives on topics such as mineralogy, mining, regional change and the future of Lusatia. The Fabrik.Fest.Spiele and the Herbst.Feuer.Fest are fixed event highlights every year.