Deutsches Fastnachtmuseum

About the museum

The idea for a museum of Fastnacht came from the Fastnacht expert Hans Joachim Schumacher, who won over Kitzingen carnival enthusiasts and the Bund Deutscher Karneval (German Carnival Association) to the project. After the renovation of the leaning Falterturm, a landmark of the town, the Deutsches Fastnachtmuseum opened there in 1967 as the official museum of the Bund Deutscher Karneval. To secure the holdings permanently, they were transferred to a non-profit foundation in 1981.

In the 1980s the Central Archive of German Fastnacht and a European documentation center for Fastnacht customs were added. Because the Falterturm could no longer be used for fire safety reasons, the museum moved at the end of 2010 into buildings on Rosenstraße and Luitpoldstraße, which were connected by a modern link building; the conversion was completed in 2014. The client and operator is the Stiftung Kulturzentrum Fasching – Fastnacht – Karneval. Since 2019 the Deutsche FastnachtAkademie has also been housed in the same building.

The collection is one of the most important of its kind in the German-speaking world and includes masks, costumes, ceremonial props, jester literature, and one of the largest collections of carnival medals in the world. Among the key holdings are historic Rhön masks. The permanent exhibition, covering more than 400 square meters, leads from the medieval jester through the courtly masked festivals of the Baroque to present-day carnival.

Highlights

• Official museum of the Bund Deutscher Karneval
• Permanent exhibition of more than 400 m² from the Middle Ages to today
• One of the largest collections of carnival medals in the world
• Historic Rhön masks from the Friedrich Münch collection
• Free audio guide with about 30 stops
• Historic vaulted cellar "Wolfshöhle"

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung Fasching, Fastnacht, Karneval – A tour through the cultural history of the "fifth season": from the medieval jester through mask and fire customs and courtly costume festivals to carnival princes and princesses, dance guards, and the Büttenrede (carnival speech).

Founded

1967

Operated by

Stiftung Kulturzentrum Fasching, Fastnacht, Karneval

Director

Romana Wahner

Admission & discounts

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

All exhibition rooms are wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's and family tours, workshops for making masks, medals, or jester caps, and the Chaos Game (ages 8 and up) for groups; the program can also be booked for children's birthday parties, with a party in the vaulted cellar with kitchen possible. The mascot Molli Mops accompanies children through the museum.

Getting there & parking

Centrally located near Königsplatz on the pedestrian zone; accessible by car via the A3, A7, and B8.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The cafeteria and museum shop are open during opening hours.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 60 guests.

Historic vaulted cellar "Wolfshöhle" with stage, lighting and sound equipment, and kitchen: up to 60 people in rows of seats, up to 50 at tables; rental €75 per hour, €50 from the third hour. Outside catering and sparkling wine receptions possible. In the same building, the Deutsche FastnachtAkademie rents out a hall, seminar room, and multipurpose room, including for company parties.

Plan your visit