Bibelgalerie Meersburg

About the museum

The Bibelgalerie is a project of the Protestant parish of Meersburg. It was initiated by a pastor couple, a deaconess and many volunteers with the aim of bringing the Bible to life as a shared cultural book across denominations and generations in the Lake Constance vacation region. In June 1988 it opened as Germany's first hands-on Bible museum.

The museum is housed in rooms of the town's former Dominican convent. Remains of the cloister, medieval wall paintings and the old convent well have survived in the entrance area. In June 2008 the permanent exhibition was expanded and completely redesigned.

The tour leads room by room through the world of the Bible: from a nomad tent from the time of Abraham and a mud-brick house from the time of Jesus to a scriptorium, a translation room and a working replica of the Gutenberg printing press. A treasury displays valuable Bible editions spanning five centuries. In the courtyard, a Bible and herb garden grows roughly half of the plants mentioned in the Bible. Since its opening, more than half a million people have visited; today it is run by Bibelgalerie Meersburg gGmbH, a nonprofit company.

Highlights

• Walk-in nomad tent and mud-brick house from biblical times
• Working replica of the Gutenberg printing press with demonstrations
• Treasury with Bible editions from five centuries
• Bible and herb garden in the convent courtyard
• Remains of the cloister and medieval frescoes of the Dominican convent

Permanent exhibitions

• Die Bibel – ein Erlebnis für alle Sinne – Themed rooms, from a nomad tent to a print shop, tell the interactive story of 3,000 years of how the Bible was written, translated and spread.
• Bibel- und Kräutergarten – Convent garden in the courtyard with fruits, herbs and medicinal plants that appear in the Bible, including a fig tree.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Bibelgalerie Meersburg gGmbH

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Bodensee-Erlebniskarte.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, accessible entrances are available for people with disabilities. Adapted tours focused on touching, smelling and feeling are offered for groups with visual or hearing impairments.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children explore the museum on the discovery tour with "Wido Wiedehopf" (Wido the Hoopoe), and schoolchildren with a museum scavenger hunt. There is a play corner for the youngest and many stations for touching, smelling and trying things out, such as grinding grain. Tours for daycare groups, school classes and confirmation or First Communion groups.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with Bible editions, children's books, Bible scents and its own wine edition; accessible without visiting the museum.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit