Archäologisches Museum Gunzenhausen

About the museum

The core of the museum is the collection of district physician and local historian Dr. Heinrich Eidam (1849–1934), who excavated in the Gunzenhausen area for decades, including at the Theilenhofen fort and in the row-grave cemetery of Westheim. In 1892 he became section commissioner of the Reichs-Limeskommission, and in 1921 an honorary citizen of the town. His finds were on display from 1906 in a municipal residential building, from 1921 in the local history museum in the former Schranne, and from 1938 in the so-called Palais Heydenab on the market square.

When the Stadtmuseum was redesigned in 1984, the prehistoric and early historic collection no longer had room and went into storage. Only a donation from the Lions Club, funds from the town, the Landesstelle für die nichtstaatlichen Museen, and many citizens made a building of its own possible: after about 15 months of planning and conversion, the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte opened on October 4, 1998, in the Faulstich-Haus at the Blasturm, an 18th-century building. It was designed by town archivist Werner Mühlhäußer and Dr. Johann Schrenk.

The exhibition is structured like an excavation layer: the oldest finds at the bottom, the youngest at the top. On four levels it leads from the Neolithic through the Bronze Age, Urnfield, Hallstatt, and La Tène periods to the Romans on the Limes and the early Middle Ages. In the attic, the wall walk of the historic town wall connects the museum with the neighboring Blasturm.

Highlights

• Mercury statuette and remains of a Mithras sanctuary from the Limes
• Bronze hoard of Stockheim and horse harness from a grave find
• Models of Limes watchtowers and Roman legionary equipment
• Replica of early medieval row graves from Westheim
• Wall walk of the town wall with passage to the Blasturm

Permanent exhibitions

• Vor- und Frühgeschichte des Gunzenhäuser Landes – Tour over four levels from the Neolithic through the metal ages to the early Middle Ages, with excavation finds from the Eidam collection.
• Römer am Limes – Watchtower models, legionary equipment, Roman everyday life, and the Mithras sanctuary near Wachstein – the thematic focus of the museum.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Stadt Gunzenhausen

Admission & discounts

Adults with a guest card (e.g., SEENLAND.CARD) receive a €1 discount. Tickets are available at the Tourist Information office diagonally opposite the museum.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum website offers an online learning game on archaeology and the Limes, which is also suitable for school lessons.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the historic town center near the market square and the Blasturm.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit