Die Tuchfabrik Forell – Aufstieg und Glanzzeiten
Roetgen
Once a vibrant production site - the Forell cloth factory characterized the heyday of weaving in Roetgen. What remains is a quiet reminder of the economic boom of the 19th century.
At that time, Roetgen became part of the large textile region between Aachen, Verviers and Monschau. One of the most successful entrepreneurs of this era was Moritz August Forell. His factory on Postweg was considered modern and efficient: it produced fine fabrics for shirts and dresses, in addition to the typical, robust cashmere fabrics of the region.
The family's residential and factory building - still known today as the "Oberförsterei" - reflects this rise. Façade elements made of bluestone, mullioned windows and the mansard roof show the architectural influences of the Couven era.
But the prosperity did not last forever. As markets changed and manual labor declined, many businesses lost their foundations. The Forell house remained - as a silent testimony to the time when Roetgen's cloth production reached as far as the Prussian court.