Alt-Rothenburger Handwerkerhaus

About the museum

The narrow house on Alter Stadtgraben beside the Markusturm is one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in Rothenburg. An examination of the building timber showed that the trees used were felled around 1370. Over the centuries various craftsmen lived and worked here, such as coopers, blacksmiths and shoemakers. Later a hermit moved in; since he hardly changed the house, much medieval fabric has been preserved.

Otto Berger acquired the derelict, empty building in 1972. At first only the facade was to remain, with a bowling alley behind it, but a historian convinced him to save the treasure as a whole. His wife Marianne Berger suggested setting up a museum and gradually furnished the rooms herself. The museum opened on June 3, 1976.

Today eleven rooms tell of everyday life and crafts in earlier times: a kitchen with an open hearth in the oldest part of the house, sleeping chambers with a canopy bed, storerooms, and a shoemaker's workshop in the newest part of the house, dating from around 1500. A small garden belongs to the house. The museum is run by volunteers.

Highlights

• Eleven lovingly furnished rooms on everyday life and crafts
• Kitchen with open hearth in the oldest part of the house
• Shoemaker's workshop in the newest part of the house, from around 1500
• Canopy bed
• Small garden on Alter Stadtgraben

Permanent exhibition

• Alt-Rothenburger Handwerkerhaus – Eleven rooms with a kitchen, sleeping chambers, storerooms and a shoemaker's workshop show living and working in medieval Rothenburg.

Founded

1976

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Right by the Markusturm, just a few minutes' walk from the market square (Alter Stadtgraben 26).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit