Partner: City of Pirmasens
Period: January 2026 > June 2029
Objectives:
The pilot investment includes the development of an audio-guided industrial history tour covering 14 stations in the former shoe manufacturing hub. Ten exhibits depicting shoemaking tools will guide visitors to former production factories, transshipment stations, distribution centers, and monuments.
Industrial heritage sites and public buildings will become temporary storytelling spaces. These installations will creatively showcase forgotten urban landmarks, impart knowledge, and bring history to life. The pilot project aims to reconnect citizens with the rich but often overlooked industrial heritage. Many historic buildings in the city remain unused or unnoticed. The project brings these spaces back to life, emotionally as well, and invites people to rediscover them at a slower, more contemplative pace.
The installations will be located mainly in the city center and can be reached via a circular route of approximately 2.5 km or 4.5 km in length. The route will help to establish connections between different parts of the city, thereby promoting balanced development. They invite people to discover the hidden “shoe castles” of Pirmasens at their own pace.