Haus Mödrath
Former manor house near Kerpen, birthplace of Karlheinz Stockhausen, and since 2017 an exhibition house for contemporary art without its own collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The manor house was built in the 1830s as an aristocratic country seat in a park-like setting on the Kleine Erft. The builders were families from Cologne's wealthy society; locally the building was long called "Burg" (castle). The estate included a mill where colour pigments were made from wood, and the house is said to have been the first in the area to be electrified. The namesake village of Mödrath later had to give way to lignite open-cast mining.
The composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, regarded as a founder of new music, was born in the house. In 1950 a children's home opened here.
A medium-sized entrepreneur who wishes to remain anonymous acquired the estate with the aim of showing contemporary art. After the conversion, which added a glass cube and a ramp with steel-sheet cladding, the house was completed in March 2017; the first exhibition opened in April 2017. The house does not see itself as a classic museum: it has no collection of its own. Instead, changing curators organize exhibitions in which the artists stand at the center. The visit also includes the old park and a kitchen with a terrace.
Highlights
- Birthplace of the composer Karlheinz Stockhausen
- Exhibitions of contemporary art with changing curators
- Modern extension with glass cube and ramp at the manor house
- Old park on the Kleine Erft
- Kitchen with homemade cake and soup
- Founded
- 2017
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people under 18 enter free. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for students of art and art history. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Private tours for groups of 10 or more: at least €50, or €5 per person. |
| Annual pass | €20 |
| Public guided tour (60–90 min.) | €5Dates in the house's calendar |
Cash only. Vouchers are available on site.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- 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
The house is not barrier-free.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
Children and young people under 18 enter free.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kerpen Marienfeld
By train to Kerpen-Horrem (S12, S13/S19, RB38, RE1, RE9); from there bus line 976, and from Kerpen-Sindorf bus line 911 to the Kerpen Marienfeld stop.
Navigation address: An Burg Mödrath 1, 50171 Kerpen. Bus line 976 runs hourly Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sundays and public holidays; line 911 runs hourly Monday to Saturday. From Cologne Hbf, the train ride to Kerpen-Horrem takes about 20 minutes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
In the basement there is a kitchen for up to 30 people with coffee, tea, soft drinks, homemade cake, and soup; in summer and in good weather the outdoor terrace is also open.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visitors typically stay about 2 to 2.5 hours, as the exhibitions also include video works. Public guided tours take place at fixed times (€5 per person); private tours within opening hours are possible by arrangement (inquiries to contact@haus-moedrath.de). |
