Multidisciplinary museum at Schloss Bertholdsburg in Schleusingen: Thuringia's geological history, minerals, dinosaurs and the regional history of Henneberg.
Presents finds from excavations – archaeological pieces from the construction work at the Bertholdsburg as well as fossils from summer paleontological digs – along with the stories behind them.
Bertholdsburg Castle first served as a museum in 1934, when the teacher Paul Georgi displayed pieces from Hermann Franke's geological estate in one of the castle's rooms. This so-called Franke Room is regarded as the nucleus of today's museum. In the 1950s a local history museum with exhibitions on the history of the town and region was added; from 1972 to 1990 part of the Sonneberg Toy Museum was also housed here.
From 1984 onward, Thuringia's natural history moved to center stage, and the institution became the Natural History Museum. Since 1988 it has looked after the natural history collections of the museums of southern Thuringia, almost 100,000 objects ranging from fossils and minerals to animal and plant specimens. The district of Hildburghausen has been its operator since 1994; on its 90th anniversary in 2024, the spelling "NaturHistorisches Museum" was adopted to underline its role as a multidisciplinary museum.
The Bertholdsburg itself was built from 1226 as a castle of the Counts of Henneberg and was expanded in the 16th century into a four-winged Renaissance palace. Since 1994 it has belonged to the Stiftung Thüringer Schlösser und Gärten, which has been carrying out extensive renovations since 2024. The permanent exhibition on regional history is being redesigned and is due to reopen in stages from 2027; the previously inaccessible south wing will also be opened up in the process.
Højdepunkter
Life-size skeleton reconstructions of the dinosaurs Liliensternus and Plateosaurus
Around 25 landscape dioramas with some 400 models of prehistoric animals and plants
Mineral exhibition with a ducal gemstone cabinet and the Bleßberg Cave
Henneberg coin hoard with silver coins from the 13th to 16th centuries
Hercules Hall with wall paintings from around 1600
Observation tower with panoramic views over the Thuringian Forest (128 steps)
Permanente udstillinger
Auf den Spuren unserer Umwelt – 300 Millionen Jahre Thüringen – A journey through Thuringia's landscapes across geological history on 800 m² (8,600 sq ft), with dioramas, around 1,000 fossils, dinosaur skeletons and aquariums.
Minerale – Faszination in Form und Farbe – Minerals and rocks of Thuringia, mining minerals and a gemstone cabinet with an 18th-century ducal collection.
Burg-, Stadt- und Regionalgeschichte – History of the Bertholdsburg, the Counts of Henneberg and the town of Schleusingen, including crafts, printing and coin minting; currently being redesigned.
Grundlagt
1934
Ejer
Landkreis Hildburghausen
Ledelse
Dr. Frank Scholze
Entrépriser & rabatter
Voksne
6 €
Nedsat pris
4 €Children aged 6 to 16, school pupils, university students, military service members, pensioners, unemployed people, social welfare recipients, people with severe disabilities
Børn og unge
4 €Children aged 6 to 16 pay the reduced rate; no price is given for younger children.
Pensionister
4 €Reduced rate for pensioners.
Personer med handicap
4 €Reduced rate with a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis).
Studerende og elever
4 €Reduced rate.
Grupper (fra 10 pers.)
4,50 € pr. personGroups of 10 or more €4.50, reduced €3.50; school classes from the district of Hildburghausen €2 per person.
Familier
14 €Parents with their children.
Combination ticket "NaturKulturGeschichte" with the Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra
9 €reduced €6, family €20; valid for one month from first use
Observation tower
2 €reduced €1.50; token available at the museum ticket desk
Photo and video permit
2 €
Surcharges may apply for individual special exhibitions. Introductory talk for groups €10, themed guided tour €25, complete guided tour €75.
Tilgængelighed
Kørestolsvenlig: ingen oplysninger
Elevator: ingen oplysninger
Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
No accessibility information has been published; some of the rooms and corridors in the historic castle are very narrow.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
Familiebillet
14 € · Parents with their children.
Familieomvisninger & workshops
Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
Børnefødselsdage
Children's birthday parties on various themes and regular holiday programs. Free children's museum guide "Mika & Luki unterwegs in Südthüringen" and activity booklets.
Transport & parkering
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette – spørg venligst museet direkte.
Service & spisesteder
Museumsbutik
Museum shop with its own publications and exhibition guides. Live fish and freshwater crayfish in aquariums.
Arrangementer & udlejning
Lokaler til leje
Private fester
Firmaarrangementer
Bryllupper / vielser
Op til 300 personer.
Rentals through the Stiftung Thüringer Schlösser und Gärten (castle administration): the Fürstensaal (Princes' Hall) seats up to 80 for concerts, readings and receptions; the castle courtyard holds around 300 for concerts, theater and festivities. Weddings in the Fürstensaal are arranged through the Schleusingen registry office.
Photography and filming allowed with a photo/video permit (€2).
Godt at vide
Self-guided tour through the north, east and west wings. On request, an introductory talk (5–10 min.), themed guided tours (30–60 min.) or a complete guided tour; maximum 25 people, book at 036841 5310 or service@museum-schleusingen.de. Numerous educational programs on geology, water, forests and history.