3 Museums Showcasing Athens’ Industrial Heritage

Step beyond the well-trodden paths of Athens’ iconic landmarks and explore a different side of the Greek capital by visiting three lesser-known industrial museums.


Ever wondered when the streets of Athens were first illuminated? What adorned the hats and dresses of early 20th-century Athenians? Or what kind of bread was baked in the city’s ovens? Old craft and industrial sites that have been transformed into museums provide answers to these and other questions. Through their exhibits and storytelling, these museums reveal fascinating details that go beyond the production process, providing a look into the daily lives of individuals in past decades.

1. Industrial Gas Museum, Gazi

Located in the heart of Athens, the old gasworks factory is a prime example of adaptive reuse. It is also the best-preserved gasworks factory in Europe. Part of the vibrant Technopolis cultural complex for the past 25 years, the site has hosted concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and various other events. The Industrial Gas Museum opened its doors to the public in 2013 with the aim of showcasing the history of the gasworks, which operated until 1984.

The factory was established in 1857 by French entrepreneur François Théophile Feraldi, who had been tasked with lighting Athens using gas. The facility expanded in 1887 to provide lighting for homes, workshops, and shops. It came under municipal ownership in 1938, but after World War II, gas lighting began to lose ground to newer lighting technologies. Today, visitors can explore the remaining machinery and six preserved buildings. The production line, furnaces, tanks, and other points of interest are brought to life through technology and a specially designed sensory experience, enhancing the visitor’s understanding of this historical site.

 
 
 
 
 
Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη HERITAGEnt 🔎 (@heritagent_)

 

Info

Technopolis City of Athens, 100 Piraeus

Open: Wed-Sun 10:00-20:00

 

Admission: €2

2. Benaki Museum / Mentis – Antonopoulos (‘NEMA’) Passementerie, Petralona

One of the most impressive features of this modest workplace is that, despite being a museum, it still functions as a fully working textile mill. The ancient Mentis Passementerie Workshop faced closure in 2011, because of the economic crisis that caused many small enterprises to fold. However, thanks to the efforts of Ministry of Culture ethnologist Virginia Matseli, the Benaki Museum’s support, and the owners’ willingness to donate the entire set of equipment and products, the business was saved.

The original staff were rehired, the equipment was restored, and production resumed, focusing on traditional items like braids, trims, ribbons, cords, fringes, and tassels. The Antonopoulos workshop also contributed equipment to the museum, resulting in the creation of NEMA (Mentis – Antonopoulos Passementerie). Today, the workshop produces items sold at the Benaki Museum and has established high-profile collaborations, including with the fashion house Dior, for which it crafted handmade cords for hats. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions and events to preserve and promote traditional weaving and passementerie techniques.

 
 
 
 
 
Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Μουσείο Λούλη (@loulis_museum)

 

Info

6 Polyfimou, Petralona

Open: Tue-Sat 10:00-15:00

 

Admission: Free

3. Loulis Museum, Keratsini

From the significance of cereals in culinary culture to the first flour mills, the Loulis Museum provides a comprehensive exploration of the history of flour and bread. Housed in the historic building of the Aghios Georgios Mills in Keratsini, the museum’s collection is divided into twelve thematic sections. Topics include wheat as an agricultural product, sowing and harvesting methods, milling, and modern cultivation and production practices.

Visitors can learn about mill technology through educational videos that cover its evolution from classic watermills and windmills to today’s use of cutting-edge equipment. The tour is highly interactive and lasts about two hours.

Info

1 Spetson, Keratsini

Open: Mon-Fri, 1:00-16:00

 

Admission: Free (Reservation required at loulismuseum.gr)



Read More

GASTRONOMY

Late-Night Snacks: Where to Eat in Athens in the Small Hours

Where do locals go for food when everything else is...


Thessaloniki

What’s Hot in Thessaloniki Now

Delve into a world of art and craftsmanship, and wander...


Athens

Taking a Virtual Tour of the Acropolis with Clio Muse

Professional audio tours combine with the power of Google Street...


Athens

Inside Scoop: These are Our Favorite Places for Ice Cream in Athens

The city’s ice cream makers squeeze the most delicious flavors...


Greece Is Blog Posts

An Ode to Local Products

BY Yiouli Eptakili

No more avocado toast and croque-madames. From Thessaloniki to Crete...

read more >

How Can Greece Become a Gastro-Tourism Destination?

BY Yiouli Eptakili

It’s about more than just taking a trip...

read more >

Leaving Room in Greece for Everyone

BY Greece Is

Labor Day, this year September 5, marks the...

read more >