Rotes Haus Monschau | New Permanent Exhibition

The Red House in Monschau has opened its revamped and expanded permanent exhibition. This patrician house from the mid-18th century originally served as both a residence and the central business headquarters for the Scheibler family, a dynasty of cloth merchants, and today offers unique insights into late Baroque domestic life and everyday culture, pre-industrial cloth-making processes, and historical fashion trends, as well as information about the Wool Route, which connects the cultural heritage of the cloth-making region in the tri-border area around Aachen.

The new section of the exhibition—featuring interactive monitor and projection installations created by 235 Media, as well as a media slider—is dedicated to the elaborate production of cloth. It vividly illustrates the family’s trade relationships and sheds light on the city’s history, which is intricately intertwined with that of the family. In a hands-on activity, visitors can project elaborate weaving samples displayed in pattern books onto virtual vests for a lifelike experience. An atmospheric experience is provided by an audiovisually staged projection that brings the vaulted cellar—supported by rusticated columns, where wool was once washed—back to life.