Alte Dombach

What secrets does a tranquil stream hold? The Strunder Bach whispers tales of Alte Dombach. Alte Dombach isn’t just a name. It’s a living testament to the history of papermaking. It stands as a reminder of a time when paper was not just a commodity. It was a craft, a labor of love. Alte Dombach began its life in 1614, a small paper mill nestled near Cologne. It witnessed the transformation of papermaking from a family affair to a large-scale industry. In 1876, the prominent Zanders company acquired both Alte Dombach and the neighboring Neue Dombach. The old site closed in 1900, but its story didn’t end there. The Landschaftsverband Rheinland (Rhenish Countryside Association) received the site as a gift in 1987. They transformed it into the historical industrial complex we see today. This transformation opened to the public in 1999. Now, Alte Dombach stands as a proud part of North Rhine Westphalia’s LVR-Industriemuseum. This museum is a network of seven distinct locations. Each showcases the rich industrial and technological heritage of the state. At Alte Dombach, you’ll encounter not one but two sections. The main buildings greet you near the entrance. Here, you’ll find a multi-storied building holding permanent exhibits, a water wheel, and a drying house. The drying house also contains offices, a museum shop, and exhibition rooms. A worker’s cottage, now a charming café and restaurant, adds a touch of everyday life to the complex. There are also stables and a workshop. Further on, the old paper machine hall houses a restored 1889 paper machine. Between these two areas, an open-air display showcases the machinery used in preparing raw materials. A visit to Alte Dombach offers a journey through time. You’ll see how papermaking evolved from the hands of individual craftsmen to the complex machinery of the industrial age. The museum reveals surprising details. For instance, it highlights the global consumption of paper, focusing on advertising and packaging. You can also admire a collection of historic printed paper bags, adorned with stunning Jugendstil designs. These bags offer a glimpse into a time when coffee beans were sold loose. The museum also showcases papermaking equipment, such as a restored stamping battery used for grinding wood into pulp. You’ll even find a modern Hollander, used to prepare materials for hands-on papermaking activities. Alte Dombach isn’t just about the past. It encourages interaction. Visitors can try their hand at traditional papermaking using molds and a vat. There are also demonstrations of papermaking on a scaled-down, five-meter-long paper machine. This machine, a 1957 Laborpapiermaschine from Papierfabrik GmbH, offers a fascinating insight into modern techniques. Alte Dombach even has a room dedicated to the history of hygienic papers. A film about the toilet and toilet paper plays after visitors activate it. The activation involves sitting on the lid of one of two toilets provided. This quirky exhibit shows the museum’s dedication to covering all aspects of paper’s history. Alte Dombach is more than a museum. It’s an experience. It’s a celebration of a material that has shaped our world.