BikiniARTmuseum

About the museum

The BikiniARTmuseum sees itself as the world's first museum devoted entirely to swimwear and bathing culture. It was initiated and privately funded by Regensburg entrepreneur Alexander Ruscheinsky and opened on July 5, 2020, the anniversary of Louis Réard's presentation of the bikini in Paris in 1946. Bad Rappenau was chosen deliberately as the location because the spa town and its textile industry are closely linked to swimwear manufacturing.

The new Art Deco–style building sits right at the Bad Rappenau highway exit and, together with a hotel, restaurants and a truck stop, forms its own leisure complex. A symbolic figure about ten meters tall stands on the roof, and there is an art garden outside. The exhibition extends over two floors.

The permanent exhibition spans the story from bathers in antiquity through bathing machines and 19th-century bans to Hollywood icons, James Bond and today's labels. A focus is the invention of the bikini, with numerous surviving original designs by Louis Réard, including the so-called Golden Réard. The museum also addresses women's emancipation, body image and body positivity, shows artworks on the theme of bathing and maintains an extensive archive on the history of swimwear. Past special exhibitions have been devoted to Bunny Yeager, Marlene Dietrich and Amy Winehouse, among others.

Highlights

• Original bikinis by bikini inventor Louis Réard, including the "Goldener Réard" (Golden Réard)
• Journey through swimwear from antiquity to the present
• Multimedia show "Der Bikini – Die atomare Erfindung" in the in-house cinema
• Artworks on the theme of bathing and an art garden
• SelfieARTmuseum with photo sets and a ball pit

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte der Bademode – A tour from the bathers of antiquity through bathing bans and bathing machines to Hollywood stars, James Bond and current swimwear trends.
• Die Erfindung des Bikinis – The history of the two-piece since 1946, with surviving original designs by Louis Réard and a specially produced film.
• SelfieARTmuseum – Walk-in photo sets on the theme of summer, beach and bathing – with a ball pit to dive into.

Founded

2020

Operated by

24 RE-Real Estate GmbH

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on Thursdays for residents of Bad Rappenau (with ID, once per calendar year).

Prices shown are for online tickets ("Aloha-Deal"); tickets are also available at the museum ticket desk.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Wheelchair-accessible according to the museum. Pets are not allowed for hygiene reasons.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Interactive children's tour for ages 6 to 12 (2 hours, max. 15 children, €12 per child with quiz and goody bag): the children climb into a historic bathing machine and sit in an old beach chair. Children's birthday parties on request. Ball pit and candy swing in the SelfieARTmuseum, playground next to the building. Strollers are allowed, though access may be limited when it is very busy.

Getting there & parking

Directly on the A6, exit 35 Bad Rappenau.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Several restaurants in the building offering breakfast, burgers, coffee and a wine bar, with outdoor terraces; museum shop "STORE Pikinni"; adjoining hotel and truck stop with a 24-hour shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Corporate events, conferences, receptions, holiday parties, birthdays, bachelorette parties and event weddings; catering by the in-house restaurateur, with guided tours and hotel rooms on request.

Plan your visit