XFEL: European XFEL opens new campus tour

The European XFEL campus, which was temporarily closed to the public due to Corona, is now freely accessibly again. A new feature is a campus tour along a green line with panels that provide information about the research facility and the renaturation measures on and around the campus. For the first time, a large part of the outdoor area of the premises is now accessible without a guided tour. The company restaurant BeamStop also opens its doors again for external guests on weekdays from 11:30 to 14:00; to avoid waiting times, a visit from 12:45 is recommended. The menu includes two main dishes daily from €5.40, as well as soup and a salad bar. The cafeteria offers coffee and snacks from 7:00 to 15:00.

Schenefeld's Mayor Christiane Küchenhof opened the tour together with European XFEL Managing Director Nicole Elleuche.

Christiane Küchenhof: "With the campus tour, European XFEL once again gives the city of Schenefeld and its guests a very nice present. Hopefully, many visitors will make use of the opportunity to enjoy science and nature together right on their doorstep. The opening of BeamStop is also a great offer and I am very happy that the restaurant is open to the public again."

Nicole Elleuche: "With the opening of the tour, we want to bring science and nature to life on our campus. We hope for many interested guests who can now combine an interesting walk with lunch or coffee in the staff restaurant. The walk is part of the new visitor concept that will be implemented when our visitor centre Lighthouse opens at the end of 2024."

The signposted route is 1.6 km long and stretches from the entrance to the company premises to the Düpenau river. Blue panels provide information about the buildings and underground facilities of the X-ray laser. Green panels explain compensation and renaturation measures, tree planting and bird and bat protection activities on the site.

The campus is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and in winter until nightfall. Visitors are asked not to leave the area marked by the green line. The buildings may not be entered for safety reasons. Children are only admitted when accompanied by adults.

The staff restaurant will be also be open as an exception on the weekend of 3 and 4 June from 8:00 to 13:00. For more information on the menu, please visit https://www.xfel.eu/beamstop/index_eng.html.

Safety and house rules for visitors can be found here. 

Contact:

Dr. Bernd Ebeling
Tel: +49-40-8998-6921
E-mail: bernd.ebeling@xfel.eu