German Shoe Museum Hauenstein, Shoe museum in Hauenstein, Germany
The German Shoe Museum is a collection of about 3,000 shoe pairs housed in a former factory building with four exhibition levels. The collection shows footwear from different eras and cultures, ranging from everyday items to special creations.
The museum documents the development of the shoe industry from 1800, when discharged soldiers in the nearby Pirmasens region began making footwear as a livelihood. This craft tradition spread throughout Hauenstein and made it an important manufacturing center.
The second floor covers 1918 to 1945 and holds a fully working "modern" shoe factory that is started up daily. At the end of the circular walk, shoes worn by public figures such as Angela Merkel and Joschka Fischer are displayed.
The museum is housed in a former factory building and is easily accessible through the town center. Visitors should allow time to explore all four levels and can move through the exhibition at their own pace.
The largest pair of shoes in the world, size 247 according to the German Wikipedia article, is displayed on the first floor. The circular walk ends with shoes worn by public figures such as Angela Merkel and Joschka Fischer. The museum received an award in the European Museum competition for combining shoe culture with social history.
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