Bayerisches Donauland-Museum

About the museum

Obernzell Castle stands directly on the left bank of the Danube east of Passau. Bishop Urban von Trenbach had the late Gothic castle of a prince-bishop's official expanded into an impressive Renaissance castle between 1581 and 1583. In the 17th century, after a fire at the Passau residence, it briefly served as the seat of government of the prince-bishops, and later, until the early 19th century, as the official seat of an administrator; afterwards it passed to Bavaria.

In 1982 the Bavarian National Museum established a branch museum in the castle, which as a ceramics museum showed the production and use of ceramics from the Stone Age to the present – fitting for the town, which as Hafnerzell was known for its black pottery and crucibles.

After around four decades, the building was made accessible without barriers with funds from the federal government and the Free State – with a ramp, automatic door, lift and new sanitary facilities – and its content was redesigned. In July 2025 it reopened as the Bavarian Danube Land Museum.

On around 800 square metres, about 500 exhibits from the 15th to the 20th century tell of life on and with the Danube, the history of the castle and the market town of Obernzell. The cabaret artist Django Asül appears as host in the role of the castle spirit; media stations in all three sections invite visitors to take part. On the ground floor, the market municipality shows changing exhibitions.

Highlights

• Bavaria's oldest bicycle, from Straubing (before 1819)
• Miniature salt-ship convoy about four metres long from the electoral table, around 1750
• Works of the Danube School around 1500
• Obernzell black pottery and crucibles
• Reconstructed armour of the knight Zacharias Haderer
• Frescoes of the former castle chapel

Permanent exhibitions

• Donauland – A tour of Bavaria's cultural history along the Danube – from trade and shipping to the art of the Danube School, with ship models and Bavaria's oldest bicycle.
• Schloss Obernzell – The Renaissance castle itself as the largest exhibit: building history, prince-bishops and frescoes of the former castle chapel, narrated by the castle spirit.
• Obernzeller Ortsgeschichte – Exhibition section in the coach house on the Danube market and its black pottery, complemented by a virtual local history archive on the 20th century.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Zweigmuseum) mit dem Markt Obernzell

Admission & discounts

Payment is made at the ticket machine in the entrance area (cash or card). The changing exhibitions on the castle's ground floor are freely accessible.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Largely accessible without barriers: ramp and automatic door at the main portal, lift to the two upper floors, accessible toilet on the ground floor; the Knights' Hall is also accessible. Captions in German, English and Czech.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Interactive stations for children and adults; Django Asül guides visitors through the exhibition as the castle spirit. There is a playground in the adjoining castle park.

Getting there & parking

The castle lies directly on the Danube and the Danube Cycle Path; Obernzell has a ship landing stage and a Danube ferry.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 150 guests.

Civil weddings in the Knights' Hall with up to 150 guests via the market town of Obernzell; serving drinks in the Knights' Hall is not permitted.

Plan your visit