The royal historical society “Zwischen Venn und Schneifel” runs its museum in the old railway building dating from the end of the 19th century, whereby the main focus is on the portrayal of regional history. In addition to a chronological journey through time, visitors can also immerse themselves in several focal issues (e.g. the history of the church, railway, handicrafts and a historical journey through time) which have had a formative influence on the development of the Eifel-Ardennes region.
The chronological journey through time starts in the exhibition on the Celtic and Roman period in which finds from the region are presented together with the corresponding background knowledge. A dark room – imitating the “dark period” – allows the visitor to discover the individual objects. The offer is completed by a model of an archaeological excavation (with explanations on film).
Among other things, the exhibition on the Middle Ages and the modern period addresses the era of castles, the Thirty Years War and the Austrian period. The centrepieces of this colourful room are knights’ helmets, finds from Schönberg Castle, a cross dating from the time of the Thirty Years War, and insights into a manor house from the era of the Empress Maria Theresia. The occurrences of regional significance form the focal issues of the exhibition on the French and Prussian era (Peasants’ War, Napoleonic Wars, the new border, emigration, militarism, patriotism, First World War).
The journey through time ends in the room dedicated to the regional political history of the 20th century (change of states, inter-war period, Ardennes Counteroffensive, clean-up, efforts towards gaining autonomy, stabilisation of the regional administrative structures in the course of the Belgian state reform). The contents are portrayed using screen-based presentations (with touchscreen), sliding boards, three-dimensional objects etc. This enables visitors to put together their own programme depending on their personal interests – i.e. an interactive museum with many a surprise in store for visitors of whatever age. Every piece of information is available in the three languages of the country.
