New textile museum in Forst: opening with spectacular exhibits!

New textile museum in Forst: opening with spectacular exhibits!

It's finally here! On November 22nd and 23rd, 2025, the newly designed "Forster. Museum for Textile and Industrial History Lausitz" will open in Forst (Lausitz). The opening event has the motto “From completion of construction to departure” and promises a colorful program for all visitors on these days.

One of the treasures presented in the new museum is the legendary steam locomotive “Black Jule,” along with a wagon and rolling stand technology. This locomotive, which was in use between 1893 and 1965 and is considered one of Forst's landmarks, has an impressive history: it transported coal and cloth along a 24-kilometer network and was connected to around 80 factories. After it was decommissioned, it was taken to the Dresden Transport Museum, but returned to Forst in 2012 because the tracks and the depot are listed buildings. A new presentation of the locomotive will be planned in the future after the museum has been redesigned, as Maerkischer Bote reports.

Diverse supporting program for the opening

The opening weekend will not only be enriched by the new exhibits, but also by a varied supporting program. Plans include, among other things, creative workshops dealing with the museum's new appearance, as well as dance and music contributions from local clubs. Families in particular get their money's worth: there are activities for children, including a storyteller and model building activities based on the “Jule” locomotive. Guided tours of the museum are also offered regularly.

The special exhibition “Approaches. Forest (Lausitz)” integrated into the museum shows photographs by the ASA photography group and documents the changes in the city as well as the current lives of its citizens. Another highlight is the reading by Prof. Dr. Günter Erbe on November 26th, which will be accessible free of charge to anyone interested.

Opening times and other offers

From November 27, 2025, those interested will have the opportunity to visit the temporarily open areas of the museum every Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The extended opening hours include every second and fourth Thursday, when the museum remains open until 8 p.m. On the last Thursday of every month, the Forest Museum Association's history get-together takes place, which offers further space for exchange and discussion.

The full permanent exhibition, which will open in 2026, will deal with topics such as the textile industry, the city's history and the economic development of Lusatia. This is all great news for the city and its visitors, who can look forward to an exciting journey of discovery into Forst's industrial history.