German Clock Museum, Technology museum in Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, Germany.
The German Clock Museum houses a large collection of timepieces that shows how clockmaking evolved from simple craftsmanship to industrial production. The displays present different types of clocks and explain the techniques that developed over centuries.
Robert Gerwig, director of the Grand Ducal Baden Clockmaking School in Furtwangen, began collecting old clocks in 1852. The collection was first shown in 1858 at the Black Forest Industry Exhibition in Villingen and has been on permanent display since 1874. In 1978 the Historic Clock Collection was renamed the German Clock Museum after the state acquired the Kienzle clock collection.
Black Forest clockmakers sold their wooden clocks through travelling traders known as Uhrenträger, who carried the wares to markets abroad. From the second half of the 18th century the varnished Lackschilduhr with its painted wooden face dominated the European market, and its decoration was adapted to the country of export. Around a third of visitors today join a guided tour in which clocks and musical instruments are set running.
The museum sits in a small town in the Black Forest and is easy to reach by public transport or car. The layout is straightforward, so visitors can explore without needing special preparation.
A highlight of the collection is an astronomical clock from 1787 made by a Benedictine monk that displays complex celestial movements. This timepiece demonstrates how advanced the craft had become by that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,787 contributors worldwide.
