Stadtmuseum Burghausen

About the museum

The Stadtmuseum Burghausen originated in 1899 from a citizens' initiative: in March, twenty residents of Burghausen founded the Stadtmuseums- und Altertumsverein (town museum and antiquities society) to collect historical objects and exhibit them in the main castle. In doing so they helped to save the castle, which stood empty after the garrison withdrew, from falling into ruin. The first exhibition opened in June 1899 in a small room; in 1907 the museum moved into the Kemenate of the main castle, where it is still housed today.

Under successive directors the collection grew steadily. Particularly influential was Karl Stechele, who, alongside antiquities, also purchased contemporary views of the town, which today are among the most important holdings. After the Second World War the museum was reopened in 1949 together with the ducal living quarters and the state gallery; later directors inventoried the holdings and introduced annual special exhibitions.

In 2012 the building was the Bavarian venue of the Bavarian–Upper Austrian State Exhibition. Afterwards the permanent exhibition was gradually redesigned: in 2016 the sections on late medieval court life and on town history opened, in 2019 the art department, and in 2025 the natural history department on the Salzach and Wöhrsee area. The four permanent exhibitions received the Bavarian Museum Prize in 2025. The museum is run by the town of Burghausen.

Highlights

• Location in the main castle of the longest castle in the world, at 1,051 metres
• Staged ducal court around 1500 with hands-on stations
• Burghausen Baroque art and views of the town around 1900
• Walk-on town plan of 1935 on the Nazi era
• Nature department on the Salzach, Wöhrsee and the northern bald ibis
• Bavarian Museum Prize 2025

Permanent exhibitions

• Leben auf der Burg im Spätmittelalter – Staged rooms on the ground floor show everyday life at the court of Duchess Hedwig around 1500 – with costumes, games, a kitchen and a tournament to try out.
• Kunststadt Burghausen – Works by Burghausen painters' and sculptors' workshops from the Baroque era to the 19th century, with stations on fresco, barrel and portrait painting.
• Stadtgeschichte Burghausen – From the salt trade and Salzach shipping through the era of the Rentamt (tax and administrative office) to the industrial town; a walk-on town plan of 1935 sheds light on the Nazi era.

Founded

1899

Operated by

Stadt Burghausen

Director

Patrick Charell

Admission & discounts

Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card): free admission; further free admissions on request.

Accessibility

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

Exhibition on four floors, lift to the 1st and 2nd upper floors. For wheelchair users only the entrance area and the town history section on the 2nd upper floor are accessible with few barriers. The path across the castle has paving slabs and compacted gravel, with an accessible path track in the main castle; accessible toilets at Curaplatz, in the 1st forecourt and in the main castle (Dürnitzstock). Assistance dogs allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Kids’ birthday parties

Hands-on stations in all departments, marked with the castle ghost. Free puzzle booklet on town history for children who can read. Activity programmes such as coat-of-arms painting or medieval games, also bookable for children's birthday parties. Prams must be left in the entrance area.

Getting there & parking

The castle is closed to cars. The museum is in the main castle at the end of the castle complex, entrance on the right in the castle courtyard.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Small museum shop at the ticket desk; lockers (€1). On the castle grounds there are a castle café and a kiosk.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit