Badisches Schulmuseum Karlsruhe

About the museum

In December 1988, teachers, principals and other interested people founded a nonprofit association in Durlach to save evidence of school history from being thrown away. The collection was initially housed in Karlsruhe schools and at the Landesmedienzentrum (state media center). In 2002 the first historic classroom was set up in the Schlossschule in Grötzingen, where historical lessons have been offered ever since; in 2013 the museum moved into the Grünwinkel elementary school.

In October 2014 it opened in the former Waldensian school in the hilltop district of Palmbach, once the town hall and schoolhouse of this Waldensian village. During the move, a mural reappeared in the large schoolroom that the young Hans Fischer (later Fischer-Schuppach) had painted in 1929: a colorful fairy-tale world for whose figures Palmbach schoolchildren served as models. The mural and the classroom were restored in 2020/21.

Today the museum shows, on three floors, a historic classroom, a 1950s classroom, a teacher's apartment from around 1900 and an exhibition room on school, religion, Palmbach local history and the Waldensians. The collections include teaching and learning materials, taxidermy specimens and technical equipment; the oldest pieces date from the early 19th century. The museum is known for its old-time lessons, in which a “Fräulein Lehrerin” (Miss Teacher) teaches with slate, slate pencil and Sütterlin script.

Highlights

• Historic classroom with the mural “Palmbacher Märchenwelt” (Palmbach Fairy-Tale World, 1929)
• 1950s classroom with an exhibition of fairy-tale books
• Furnished teacher's apartment on the attic floor
• Historical lessons with a “Fräulein Lehrerin” for groups
• Many exhibits may be touched

Permanent exhibitions

• Historisches Klassenzimmer mit „Palmbacher Märchenwelt“ – Classroom on the first floor with the fairy-tale mural by Hans Fischer-Schuppach, created in 1929 and about six meters long, in which 62 fairy-tale motifs have been identified.
• 1950er-Jahre-Klassenzimmer – Furnished postwar classroom on the upper floor, complemented by an exhibition of old fairy-tale books.
• Lehrerwohnung und Ausstellungsraum – On the attic floor, a teacher's apartment as it looked around 1900, plus objects on school and religion, Palmbach's local history and the Waldensians.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Badisches Schulmuseum Karlsruhe e. V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free on the open Sundays; donations are welcome. Group visits on other days are charged.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

School history to experience: many exhibits may be touched, and there are historical lessons with slate and slate pencil for school classes and groups.

Getting there & parking

By car from the Karlsruhe Südtangente via the B 3 and L 623, or via the A 8, Karlsbad exit. On foot from the Waldbronn-Reichenbach light rail stop (S 11), a hiking trail of about 3.5 km.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Coffee and cake only on the open Sundays. Palmbach also has the inns Waldenserschänke and Schmalztöpfle and the restaurant Winterrot.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit