In the 18th century, the processing of the tobacco plant from America provided one in four Vlotho residents with work at times, and the industry flourished. During the First World War, the tobacco industry experienced a further growth spurt, with wages and prices rising by around 30%. The number of companies in Vlotho grew to 40 .

This development was interrupted by the shortage of raw materials at the end of the First World War. A major structural change then began. In 1920, the state intervened in economic processes by introducing a Banderol tax and later by increasing the tobacco tax. Several tobacco factories closed and the number of unemployed rose. In 1945, 15 companies were still producing in Vlotho and in 1968 only 4. The dominance of the tobacco industry ended after a period of almost a hundred years.

One of the last cigar factories in Vlotho was the Schöning cigar factory in the
Langen Straße.

Today, the former cigar factory is home to the "Kulturfabrik":

Openings

Today, the former cigar factory is home to the "Kulturfabrik".
The entrance times therefore depend on the facilities located there.

General Information