Völklingen Ironworks image

Völklingen Ironworks

Tourist attraction Museum Historical landmark Event venue Historic site Places of interest

One of the Best Places To Visits in Völklingen


Address

Rathausstraße 75-79, 66333 Völklingen, Germany

Website

www.voelklinger-huette.org

Contact

+49 6898 9100100

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Monday: 10 AM to 6 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: visit (15) hours (15) industrial (13) site (10) walk (9) history (8) Amazing (6) English (6) museum (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Lukas S. 1 month ago on Google • 45 reviews New
    Sehr schöne Industrieanlage für die man sich etwas Zeit nehmen muss zum besichtigen. Man bekommt die Schritte der Stahl Herstellung gezeigt und kann am Ende auch auf die Hochöfen rauf, was etwas Mut erfordert sollte man unter Höhenangst leiden. Manchmal finden Sonderausstellungen statt, dass kann man auf der Webseite nachlesen.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Peter S. 6 months ago on Google • 597 reviews
    If you are not sure about visiting a steel works as a historic landmark think no more and go. It is incredible, huge, and just try to imagine what life must have been like while it was a working mill. I would visit again if I'm in the area. We loved it. We did get a bit lost at times so the signage could be improved.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 B L. 5 months ago on Google • 54 reviews
    Ein phantastisches Erlebnis! Wir hatten online die einmal am Tag stattfindende öffentliche Führung gebucht und wurden von Christoph (einem früheren Angestellten der Hütte) zwei Stunden durch die Anlage geführt. Es war lehrreich ohne anstrengend zu sein und wir hatten viel Spaß. Durch die innere Verbindung an den Ort war die Führung besonders eindrucksvoll. Nach einer Stärkung im Biergarten mit lecker Kaffee und Kuchen haben wir uns den Paradies genannten Bereich angesehen (sehr sehenswert!) und waren in den Ausstellungen. Die momentane Ausstellung zum deutschen Film müsste man eigentlich an einem anderen Tag ansehen, sie ist für sich alleine schon überwältigend.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vanesa V. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing place! No words to describe how cool our visit was - just take a look at the awesome photos we took. I was afraid that we will get lost but there were enough signs along the path. It would be nice to know how much more in average time would be needed at each point since I was afraid they will close while we were still there. The personnel was very scarce so we had no clue if they will notice that we are still there. We followed the arrows but somehow we missed on part of it. A printed map together with the tickets would have been helpful. The movies are only in German and French. English subtitles would have been helpful. It would also be helpful to show the way from the parking lot to the main entrance - it was not clear to us which way to walk. The staff was very nice.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alex C. 6 months ago on Google
    Amazing industrial heritage site, well deserved of its UNESCO status. Internal directions are a little confusing and would have liked to have seen the blower hall without the art installations as it seemed impressive but was so dark it was hard to see!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tim van den B. 1 year ago on Google
    Strongly recommend to visit. Try to get a sunny day because it makes the contrast and visibility and better. Also, try to get a calm day, otherwise climbing might be more difficult due to passing other tourists at small paths.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Steven C. 2 years ago on Google
    Saw the 'World of Video Music' exhibition. Was really awesome. Iconic videos from the 80s and every decade since and from many countries. Super entertaining. Liked the format with headphones. Spent three hours there Saturday. Tons of videos but some notably absent. Not one single Michael Jackson Vid. Curious - must be a licensing issue. Some other absent groups but overall totally awesome and worth it! Go!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 SAGAR K. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the best places to visit in Saarland. As you know it's been transformed from ironworks to museum, you can see plethora types of processes carried out over there before world wars. It not only has eye catching views, but also very informative about the processes involved. To watch it in a proper way you at least need 4-5 hours of time. I would visit again and again to watch it. Superb place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 SH W. 1 month ago on Google • 459 reviews New
    Great place to spend some time here. Wish the place has better directional signage around. The entrance to purchase tickets is next to the cafe. They put the film poster right in front and it’s quite misleading. Enjoyed the science place the most.

  • 5/5 Michael K. 3 weeks ago on Google • 161 reviews New
    Beeindruckend. Tolles Industriedenkmal. Für eine Führung sollte man ca. 2 Stunden einplanen. Wir hatten das Glück, dass unser Guide bis 1986 hier gearbeitet hat und somit viele Insider Infos geben konnte. Insofern ist eine Tour echt empfehlenswert. Wer will kann aber auch ohne Guide das Gelände erkunden.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Saul P. 1 year ago on Google
    What a fantastic place to visit, so many interesting things to see and interact with, extremely fun for the whole family, many viewing points to see the whole area and a lot of learning to be done, if you want a fun family day out this is the spot, took the kids here and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, nicely priced for such a large museum
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dmitrij C. 9 months ago on Google
    Absolutely mindblowing! Can't think of a better place with a post-apocalyptic vibe. Definitely worth a short detour from Saarbrücken
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sophia 9 months ago on Google
    Amazing expedition. I also attended the public tour and would definitely recommend, it brought the history to life! On your own, the information panels are really good and come in German, English and French. The self-guided tour is good to navigate with the map of the plant you receive.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gabriel B. 1 year ago on Google
    Hands down, one of the best tourist experiences I've had. Astonishing to have largely unfettered access to such a massive industrial site. Kids enjoyed it also.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Manu M. 6 months ago on Google
    This was a very cool experience, so glad we stopped here. It seems like they are currently working on a new exhibition/renewing the signs. We did read the same information a couple of times and got a bit lost with the order of things. The day we went it was incredibly hot, but luckily there’s lots of shade. It was fun to wear the helmets and there were lots and lots of stairs to climb with an amazing view of the entire site (this was optional). We were very glad we stopped here. It’s amazing something like that had been preserved!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Drew F. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the best industrial museums we've been to. Mostly outside. The world music video expo was there when we went which was worth entry fee it's self. *****Take a packed lunch*** cafe outside venue, venue takes all day to walk round, picnic places around site but minimal food purchasing available.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 &Tilly [. 7 months ago on Google
    We loved the place. It’s very close to urbex / abandoned places in terms of atmosphere but better tended to, and more informative as well as arty. Would actually love more info even, at times we wanted to understand more but there weren’t enough texts. Still a large, cool complex that takes a few hours to explore.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 MN G. 5 months ago on Google
    Interesting place to see. Lots of art. Lots of walking. Lots of history. This place is not 100% accessible in a lot of parts of it. Some of the displays feel eerie. I would not recommend it for children since there are a lot of high areas and seems dangerous.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lauma B. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely epic! I knew before visiting that it was going to be quite impressive but when you're actually there in person, it's even more mindblowing. Make sure to have 4 hours to spend there at the very least, if you plan to look at the exhibitions as well. 5 hours would be much better (we left after 4 hours simply because the place was closing). The place is mostly very easy to navigate, only some parts were a bit more confusing, when you're not 100% sure where to go, but it's kind of impossible to get lost.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Peter F. 2 years ago on Google
    Over-priced at €17. No guided tour, no orientation movie, no audio-visuals related to its history? 😲 Really? €17. Very poor experience here. There is no denying the Gothic beauty of the machinery. But inside I learned little to nothing of the iron-making process, nor of the Ironworks importance to the economic development of Saarland. Save your money. Visit Wikipedia for better info.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kamil N. 2 years ago on Google
    Must see place. The beautiful view over Volklingen. All the machines. I really enjoyed the place. People very friendly service people helpful.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eva S. 5 months ago on Google • 202 reviews
    Tolles informatives Gelände. Hier wird die Geschichte der Hütte gut übermittelt. Man kann verschiedene Wege einschlagen. Auch für das leibliche Wohl ist gesorgt. Parkplätze gibt es ausreichend. Klare Empfehlung.

  • 5/5 Aakash R. 2 weeks ago on Google • 65 reviews New
    2024 The Völklingen Ironworks, a cultural landmark close to Saarbrucken in the Saarlands, has been a UNESCO protected site since 1994. Founded in 1873 and decommissioned in 1986, Völklinger Hütte stands as the first industrial monument of the industrial era. This location is rock in history, including the Dark ages. I have always been a lover of abandoned industrial areas, aside from other monuments that might have been constructed for different purposes, these areas were a crucial in igniting the industrial revolution. Google maps indicates where it is, easy find. Students under the age of 25 are admitted free of charge, while others fees apply. Visit official website for information on priceing and opening hours. You must spend at least three hours here because this location is enormous, with many strata covering history, death survival, and a host of other dubious and irrefutable feelings. A film exhibit was taking place, and this place doubles as a gallery. This area has an uncanny aura; if you find dim, cramped spaces uncomfortable, please endure and appreciate the enormity of this site. One of Germany's must see locations.

  • 5/5 Ari R. 7 months ago on Google
    For something monstrous by size and built in the 19th Century, this is a place to visit to understand how Manufacturing existed in those eras. The screenings aren't usually children friendly, so be aware. Ensure to walk up to the highest point without fail.

  • 4/5 Lia C. 2 months ago on Google New
    Steelworks Museum. Very old foundry transformed into a museum visited. But I think it’s better to go there during the Street Art if you are more into art …

  • 5/5 Christopher S. 2 months ago on Google New
    Amazing World Heritage experience totally different and industrial 🏭 gives a good vibe to the Metal area of Saarland

  • 5/5 John S. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing. This is a hugh site and we spent over 3 hours looking around. Preserved since its closure, it seems to be largely complete and just stuck in time, like the workers went home one day and everything cooled into quiet stasis. It is free to enter on Tuesday afternoons. Otherwise it will cost you 17 euro but well worth it in my opinion.

  • 5/5 David Holland - The Business C. 3 months ago on Google New
    Fabulous... If you like walking sround touching and smelling machines and industrial heritahe, this place is perfect... Cinema exhibition in the Blower Hall is surreal, enigmatic and slightly dystopian. . Worth a few hours, free parking, cafe on site and plenty to see..

  • 5/5 Bernhard H. 1 month ago on Google • 18 reviews New
    Ein beeindruckender Ort. Sehr ruhig während meines Besuchs. Die Bauten dagegen erzählen von selbst die Geschichte einer sehr anstrengenden, heißen und lauten Zeit. Sehr empfehlenswert.

  • 5/5 Mehdi E. 10 months ago on Google
    An amazing place full of history. Sport shoes are mandatory to do the 8k steps of all circuits. Allow 4 to 5 hours to visit everything.

  • 5/5 Bram V. 2 years ago on Google
    Abandoned steelworks turned museum, you can spend hours seeing everything. The main focus is on explaining the building's function and history. If you are willing to wear a helmet you can climb the stairs to the top and have a walk around the big blast furnace rooftops, offering nice views of the rusted industrial infrastructure and surroundings.

  • 5/5 Natalia I. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing place, huge, impressing. The very atmospheric place to visit. Some exhibitions of modern art are installed. Advise to visit the garden, very specific, but with own charm (resembles Chernobyl atmosphere).

  • 5/5 gary c. 1 year ago on Google
    Another detour from route south, very much worthwhile. If you have any interest in engineering or past industrial heritage/history you must visit. Huge music exhibition where you wear head phones and walk around the large pump room to see visual displays. Has art exhibitions inside. Lots of walking and climbing stairs, part of it requires wearing a safety helmet. €11 entry, student €6 We had a great time. Large free car park to rear with motorhome parking

  • 5/5 Kurts B. 1 year ago on Google
    Great day out. So very varied and certainly unique. Genuinely something for, almost, everyone. Needs more café or drinks machines though.

  • 5/5 Scott H. 1 year ago on Google
    Totally cool!! Great example of what the Industrial revolution looked like on the ground floor. If you like steam punk, this is the place for you.

  • 5/5 S C. 1 year ago on Google
    If you are an engineer it's a wonderful place to visit. One can climb on top of the blow furnace!!! Plan for a good 4 hours if you want to see everything. If coming with kids - don't plan to see everything, kids will not handle all of it. Food is not so good there though.

  • 3/5 Eireen y. 1 year ago on Google
    It was fun to walk around outside, but the museum inside was not very clear, not a strong story, just bits and pieces. English text was missing sometimes. There was a seemingly interesting movie but it was only in French and German, not even English subtitles. Had expected better for such a high entry price.

  • 5/5 GEORGE T. 1 year ago on Google
    Very special, well presented. I like to visit again many times. One of my richest experiences.

  • 5/5 Michael Van W. 3 years ago on Google
    This experience is simply amazing. You can walk on safe paths through almost the entire plant. Take into account that you will spend 2 to 3 hours if you want to see everything. During Corona times we missed quite some info in the first hall because the touch screens were all disabled for obvious reasons, but that didn't matter too much as everything else was open. There are no food facilities within the visit but there is a picknick area more or less in the middle of the plant. As this is a decomissioned industrial site it is impossible to make it accessible with wheelchair or stroller. You might at first feel a little lost, but no worries, you can only access paths that are included in the visit, and there are multiple ways to reach certain points.

  • 5/5 Bart D. 2 years ago on Google
    Quite the walk but totally worth it! Don't miss the science corner.

  • 5/5 Shantanu P. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice experience. The iron factory was made into a museum only after a few years of being closed. Hence most of the things are closed to how they looked when it was working. So they didn't need to create any exhibitions. There is information in English. So English speakers will also follow everything.

  • 5/5 Leonie de S. 2 years ago on Google
    Extremely impressive. Wow, German technology at it's best. We were there for 4 hours but could easily spent 2 days at this very well maintained UNESCO site.

  • 5/5 Birgit P. 2 years ago on Google
    A place for diverse interests: learn all there is to know about industrial steel production, combined.with contemporary art exhibition. The walk up to the ovens is not for the faint of heart, make sure to grab a free helmet before walking up the 123 stairs. The view from the top is spectacular!


Call +49 6898 9100100 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Assistive hearing loop
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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