Schwäbisches Handwerkermuseum

The Swabian Craftsmen's Museum is a decorative arts museum in Augsburg that displays reconstructed workshops from different periods. Visitors see original tools, materials, and objects that document the working lives of professional guilds such as barbers, shoemakers, and bookbinders.

The institution was established in 1985 in an 18th-century house that originally served as the residence of the lower fountain master. The guild chamber's renovations transformed the historic building into a space that preserves craft traditions and guild history.

The museum shows how crafts shaped everyday life in the region and what specialized skills guild members possessed. The displayed items and workshops give visitors insight into how artisans organized their guilds and lived within their craft communities.

The museum is located downtown and is easily accessible, with clear paths through all exhibition areas. Plan for about 1 to 2 hours for a visit and note that some rooms are narrow and confined.

A working historical hammer mill still operates in the museum's courtyard, showing how earlier craftspeople harnessed water power. This rare machine is a functioning relic from a time when mills were essential places for many trades.

Location: Augsburg

Inception: 1985

Operator: HWK Schwaben

Opening Hours: Monday,Thursday 09:00-12:00,13:00-17:00; Wednesday-Friday 13:00-17:00; Sunday,Holidays 10:00-17:00

Website: https://hwk-schwaben.de/artikel/schwaebisches-handwerkermuseum-71,0,4322.html

GPS coordinates: 48.36009,10.90388

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:22