German Road Museum

This is the only museum in Germany that traces the history of roads, from footpaths to motorways. It was founded in 1989 by road and traffic engineers, and is housed in the former armoury of the impressive Germersheim fortified town, which was built between 1832 and 1861. The building was renovated in 1990. Topics explored include road construction techniques and modern transport’s environmental impact. The collection includes a Germanic plank path from c. 800 BC, a horse-drawn road roller from 1800, surveying equipment and laboratory equipment, models and various vehicles, including cars, motorbikes and tractors. The construction and history of bridges and tunnels is also presented, and visitors can build their own miniature bridge to learn about structural techniques. The outdoor area displays large equipment, including road rollers and a ‘paver’ machine for laying asphalt. The voluntary association keep a library of rare reference material on the subject of roads and their construction.