“Brikettfabrik LOUISE” Technical Monument

A hissing and rumbling noise travels through the factory halls. The flywheels and pistons huff and puff as they start to move. Soon the machines have found their old rhythm – a rhythm that has not changed in more than 130 years. LOUISE, situated in an idyllic location between Bad Liebenwerda and Doberlug-Kirchhain, is the oldest briquette factory in Europe and a fascinating technical monument.

LOUISE is an old lady – long since retired, but full of life. The steam generators were fired for the first time in 1882 to set the steam engines of the briquette presses in motion. Thick clouds of smoke rose from the high chimney of the boiler house. Since then, the factory ran almost without interruption until November 1991 and delivered briquettes to Berlin for heating apartment blocks in the growing city. Shortly after the factory was decommissioned, the decision was taken to demolish it. But things turned out very differently. The factory was declared a monument in the following year and soon opened for its first groups of visitors.

Anyone who enters the factory is transported into a bygone era in a time during which industry and culture, mechanical engineering and art were not so far removed from each other. The premises and the machines are preserved in their original form. The smell of lubricating oil is in the air. Everything functions as if the workers have only briefly left their workstations and as if production could start again at any moment. In fact, up to fourteen machines can be set in motion during the factory tours. LOUISE was one of the smallest briquette factories in Germany with a daily output of 600 tons. The compactness of the facility makes it easy for visitors to understand the path that coal takes. 

Tips: 

Steam Time: A very special and unique experience throughout Germany is the demonstration of the historic briquette press in real steam operation: at the “Day in the life of a miner” event, namely every first Sunday in July as well as on other selected dates.

Bergmannsvesper canteen: Enjoy afternoon coffee with your group directly in the huge mining building. A special highlight is the delicious LOUISE cake in the shape of a briquette. You’re in for a treat! Bookings must be made in advance for the Bergmannsvesper canteen.

For cyclists:

• The “Louise” briquette factory is situated on the following cycle paths: "Coal , Wind & Water Tour" and "Prince Pueckler Cycle Path".
• Choose your own individual bicycle route retracing the regional and mining history: this pocket guide contains everything you need to know for a varied day out: Entdecker-Tour Nr. 5 (Discovery Tour No. 5