Ausbesserungswerk Opladen, Railway repair workshop in Leverkusen, Germany
Ausbesserungswerk Opladen is a former railway repair facility in the Opladen district of Leverkusen, made up of locomotive halls, wagon workshops, a forge, and administrative buildings. The site is divided into clearly separate zones that still reflect the layout of a large working industrial complex.
The facility opened in 1903 near Opladen station to service locomotives and wagons, at its peak employing close to 1,000 workers. It shut down in December 2003 after exactly one hundred years of operation.
The old industrial halls now host theater performances, exhibitions, and workshops where artists and local residents come together. The raw brick and iron spaces give a particular feel to the events held there, very different from a conventional cultural venue.
The site is being gradually transformed as part of the New Railway City Opladen project, so some areas may be under development during a visit. It is worth checking in advance which parts are open to the public before heading there.
A bombing raid on December 28, 1944 killed 234 people on the site, including 104 foreign workers who had no access to the air raid shelters. This event is still part of local memory and is not forgotten by the surrounding community.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
