October 30, 2026 – June 6, 2027
Family Affairs. 125 Jahre „Buddenbrooks“
Interactive exhibition at the St. Annen-Museum that turns the novel's questions about inheritance, family and life choices over to the visitors.
Buddenbrookhaus
Literary museum on the Mann family in their ancestral house in Lübeck; until it reopens in 2030, an info center and exhibition operate on the Markt.
Opening hoursFree admission
Temporary location (expected until 2030). The ancestral house at Mengstraße 4 is closed while it is being converted into the Neues Buddenbrookhaus. Open to visitors are the info center "Buddenbrooks am Markt" (Markt 15) with the small exhibition "Manns am Markt," as well as special exhibitions in other Lübeck museums.
Current exhibitions
About the museum
Thomas Mann's grandfather Johann Siegmund Mann bought the Baroque merchant's house at Mengstraße 4 in 1842; it remained in the family until 1891 and became a literary setting through the novel "Buddenbrooks" (1901). In the 1942 air raid on Lübeck, only the facade and the vaulted cellar survived; in 1957/58 a cooperative bank had the house rebuilt.
In 1991 the Hanseatic City of Lübeck bought the house with support from the federal and state governments. On May 6, 1993, the Heinrich-und-Thomas-Mann-Zentrum opened here as a museum, research center and literary venue all in one. Alongside a permanent exhibition on the Mann family and the Buddenbrooks, numerous special exhibitions were created, as well as an extensive specialist library; the house is also home to several literary societies.
Because the museum had reached its capacity limits and was not sufficiently accessible, the federal government funded the purchase of the neighboring property. Since then the "Neues Buddenbrookhaus" has been under construction, with reopening planned for 2030. During construction, the museum runs the info center "Buddenbrooks am Markt" on Lübeck's Markt square, with a shop and the small exhibition "Manns am Markt," and shows special exhibitions in other Lübeck museums, such as the St. Annen-Museum.
Highlights
- Ancestral home of the Mann family and setting of the novel "Buddenbrooks"
- Small interactive exhibition "Manns am Markt" with free admission
- Special exhibition "Family Affairs" marking the 125th anniversary of Buddenbrooks
- Literary city walks in the footsteps of the Manns
Permanent exhibitions
- Manns am Markt – Small interactive exhibition at the info center on the Markt with a family tree, a world map of the places the Manns lived, and Tony Buddenbrook's digital friendship book.
- Founded
- 1993
- Operated by
- Die Lübecker Museen – Kulturstiftung Hansestadt Lübeck
- Director
- Caren Heuer
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Group programs and walks via buchungen@buddenbrookhaus.de, tel. +49 451 1224243 |
|---|---|
| Special exhibition at the St. Annen-Museum (Lübeck Day Pass) | €14Valid for all Lübeck museums on the booked day; children, school students and university students free |
Free admission to the exhibition "Manns am Markt."
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- 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
No accessibility information published for the interim location.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Amenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Museum shop with literature by the Mann family at the info center "Buddenbrooks am Markt" (buddenbrookshop.de).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Literary Buddenbrooks walks on Saturdays at 14:00 or bookable for groups. Content of "Manns am Markt" in German and English. Readings, workshop talks and lectures at various venues. |
