Tucked away in Großschönau in Upper Lusatia, this museum offers something quite different from the usual mountain sights - a living記録 of local textile history. It is the only place in Germany where you can see a working reconstructed hand loom for damask weaving from 1835, alongside the last functioning hand loom for terry cloth weaving in the entire country.

The museum sits in the pretty valley of the Mandau river, surrounded by the region's typical timber-framed 'Umgebindehäuser', giving the whole visit a relaxed, village-like charm - a great stop when you want a break from hiking trails and a dose of local culture instead. The building itself, known as the Kupferhaus, was built around 1807-1809 as the home and business premises of damask manufacturer Christian David Waentig. Inside, a working workshop demonstrates historic weaving techniques, while the 'Treasury of Damasks' displays rare fabrics from the 17th to 19th centuries, and a dedicated room honours painter Johann Eleazar Zeißig, son of a local damask weaver.

How to get there

• Großschönau village centre - the museum lies in the Mandau valley, easily reached by car or train, easy access

Practical information

• Since 2020 a so-called 'Schaufenstermuseum' at the local council building has been part of the museum, showing a reconstructed horsehair damask hand loom
• The collection includes around 6,000 pattern drawings and textile samples
• Part of the collection can be browsed online via museum-digital

From 1666 to 1933 the weavers of Großschönau produced genuine damask on up to a thousand looms at times - nowhere else in Germany wove it for so long or in such quantity, supplying nobility and churches across Europe.