Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre

Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre (Sylvia Engel)

In the former Zella-Mehliser proofhouse, weapons were tested for durability for almost 50 years. The striking industrial ensemble, built from 1883 onwards, was extensively renovated until 2002 and has since housed the town museum. Here you can expect permanent exhibitions on the topics of town history, geology and mining, gunsmithing, weaponry, Zella-Mehliser weapons, automobile production, Mercedes office machines, small ironmongery, industrial development, sports history, Thuringian costumes, agriculture and forestry, and pastoralism.
Children and their relatives in particular can join Burni, the oldest artifact in the museum, on a small museum rally to discover the exhibition and even win a prize at the end.

Accessibility certified People with walking disabilities

Barrier-free information

Short Report as PDF

All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - partially accessible for people with walking disabilities".

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • There is one marked parking space for people with disabilities (parking space size: 400 cm x 500 cm).
  • The path from the car park to the entrance is 150 m long. It has a maximum longitudinal gradient of 8 % over a distance of 10 m.
  • The path in front of the entrance has a maximum longitudinal gradient of 13 % over a distance of 6 m .
  • The building is accessible without steps.
  • All evaluated rooms and facilities available to the guests are accessible without steps. 
  • The platform of the inclined platform lift is 86 cm x 104 cm. The load capacity of the lift is 225 kg.
  • All evaluated passageways/doors available to the guests are at least 80 cm wide.
  • The exhibits and the information on the exhibits are predominately visible and readable when seated.
  • Guided tours for people with walking impairments and wheelchair users are offered on request. A reservation in advance is necessary.

Public toilet for people with disabilities

  • The manoeuvring spaces are:
    in front of the toilet 160 cm x 116 cm; in front of the washbasin 116 cm x 152 cm;
    left of the toilet 82 cm x 70 cm and right of the toilet 45 cm x 70 cm.
  • There are grab rails available on the right and left of the toilet. The grab rails can be flipped-up.
  • The sink is wheelchair compatible.
  • An alarm trigger is not available.

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • There is no clearly visible alarm.
  • There is no audio induction loop system.
  • The information on the exhibits is provided in writing.
  • There are no guided tours available for people with hearing impairment and deaf people.

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • Assistance dogs are allowed in relevant areas/rooms.
  • The entrance is visually rich in contrast.
  • All evaluated and usable areas for the guest are well illuminated, i.e. bright and glare-free.
  • The signage is designed in clearly legible and contrasting font.
  • Steps are not visually rich in contrast. Stairs have at least a handrail on one side.
  • The exhibits are usually well illuminated.
  • The information on the exhibits is provided in writing and is visually rich in contrast.
  • There are no guided tours available for people with visual impairments and blind people.
  • Information is not available in Braille or prismatic font.
  • Reading glasses to borrow.

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.

  • The name or logo of the museum is clearly recognizable from the outside.
  • The objectives of the paths are always within sight or signs in visible distance are available.
  • The information on the exhibits is provided in writing, but not in easy language.
  • Guided tours for people with cognitive impairments are offered. A reservation in advance is necessary. The contents are easy to understand or are explained in a way that is easy to understand (e.g. visually). 

Evaluation report: Download as PDF

Image gallery

Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre (Sylvia Engel)
Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre
Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre Town Museum in the Weapons Testing Centre (Stadtverwaltung Zella-Mehlis)