Adam-Ries-Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Adam Ries (1492–1559), who popularized calculating with Hindu-Arabic numerals through his German-language arithmetic books, bought a property in Annaberg's Münzviertel (Mint Quarter) in 1525 and lived there as a master of arithmetic and mining official. The house, built around 1500, burned down almost completely in the town fires of 1604 and 1731; the present stone building dates from 1733, while the cellar rooms are still from around 1500. Later the building housed, among other things, a wine merchant with a wine tavern.

After stabilization work in the 1950s, the Adam Ries Museum opened on 30 March 1984, the 425th anniversary of the master's death, as part of the Erzgebirge Museum. A reopening followed for his 500th birthday in 1992, and in 1993 the Adam-Ries-Bund established the Annaberg calculation school. The association has run the museum since 1999; in 2008 the exhibition was completely redesigned.

The house is regarded as the only memorial to Adam Ries in the world located in a building he lived in himself, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region. The exhibition introduces the world around 1500, explains old measures, weights and coins, and shows original arithmetic books and the manuscript of his "Coß" in a darkened treasury.

Highlights

• Treasury of the art of arithmetic with original arithmetic books by Adam Ries
• The only known copy in the world of the third edition of his first arithmetic book (1527)
• Manuscript of the "Coß", which can be paged through virtually at the multimedia station
• Annaberg calculation school for calculating on the lines
• Experiment wall on historical units of length
• Original cellar rooms of the house built around 1500

Permanent exhibitions

• Adam Ries und seine Zeit – A tour of the life and work of the master of arithmetic, the mathematics of around 1500 and everyday life with changing measures and coins, with an experiment area and historic cellar rooms.
• Schatzkammer der Rechenkunst – Darkened room with original arithmetic books by Adam Ries, including the 1527 edition, the "Practica" of 1550 and the Annaberg bread ordinance.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Adam-Ries-Bund e.V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission for children under 5, members of the Adam-Ries-Bund, the German and Saxon Museum Associations and ICOM, accompanying persons of school classes and educational groups, and one tour guide and one bus driver each. A surcharge of €40 applies to agreed visits outside opening hours.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The ground-floor rooms are wheelchair accessible; the calculation school on the upper floor is suitable for visually impaired and blind guests. No lift; an accessible toilet is available in the neighboring Erzhammer cultural center.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In the calculation school, children and adults can calculate on lines and with counters as in Ries's day. An illustrated children's guide with puzzles (€2.50) and an experiment wall on old units of length invite hands-on participation; school programs from grade 3.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with publications.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit