Wortreich, Interactive communication museum in Bad Hersfeld, Germany

Wortreich is an interactive museum in Bad Hersfeld dedicated to language and communication with hands-on exhibits throughout its spaces. The museum lets visitors actively explore and experiment with different aspects of how people speak and understand each other.

The Wortreich opened in autumn 2011 on the former Schilde AG industrial site, which was redeveloped after Babcock-BSH went insolvent in 2002. The 5.5-hectare area was converted into a leisure park as part of Bad Hersfeld's bid for the 2014 state horticultural show, with the Geis stream largely restored. Construction costs of around six million euros were funded by the European Regional Development Fund, state and municipal sources. The park received the Städtebaupreis in 2014.

The museum takes the form of a walkable book where different chapters show how people use language in their daily lives. Visitors experience how communication shapes the way we connect with one another.

A visit works best if you give yourself time to try the different stations without rushing through them. It helps to focus on the areas that interest you most rather than trying to see everything at once.

One special feature is the chance to control balls using your thoughts through brain technology, something many visitors find surprising. Imitating animal sounds at dedicated stations also creates unexpected moments of discovery.