Deutsches Kartausenmuseum

About the museum

The Kartausenmuseum is part of the former Reichskartause (imperial Charterhouse) Buxheim in the Unterallgäu region. The Carthusians took over the religious foundation in 1402/03. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the complex was redesigned in the Baroque style, including the choir stalls and stucco work by the Zimmermann brothers. After secularization in 1803, the property passed to noble families, most recently the Counts Waldbott von Bassenheim, who lived here until 1926.

The Heimatdienst Buxheim (local heritage association) laid the foundation of the museum in 1975 and expanded it in the following years. On the north side of the cloister, three former monks' cells with three rooms each have been incorporated; they were redesigned in 2007. They tell of the order's founder, Bruno of Cologne, the history of the Charterhouse, the daily life of the silent monks, and the once vast library, of which the Heimatdienst has so far been able to buy back around 1,200 books. A model from 1975 shows the entire monastery complex.

The tour is supplemented by two further buildings of the Heimatdienst: the sacred art museum, set up in the sacristy in 2007/08 with panels on the choir stalls, the artists involved, and the Buxheim Organ Book, and the village museum in the "Klosterstüble," opened in 2006, which shows the era of the Counts Waldbott von Bassenheim and village history.

Highlights

• Three reconstructed monks' cells of the Carthusians
• Model of the entire Charterhouse complex from 1975
• Original books bought back from the former monastery library
• Sacred art museum with listening station on the Buxheim Organ Book
• Village museum with Bassenheim carriage and musical instruments from around the world

Permanent exhibitions

• Kartausenmuseum – die ehemaligen Mönchszellen – Three cells show the life of the Carthusians, the history of the Buxheim Charterhouse, and remnants of the old monastery library.
• Sakralmuseum in der Sakristei – Panels on the choir stalls, the artists, and the Rosary Brotherhood, models of stucco production, Baroque figures, and a listening station on the Buxheim Organ Book.
• Dorfmuseum „Museum zum Klosterstüble“ – History of Buxheim under the Counts Waldbott von Bassenheim, village history, musical instruments, and the Bassenheim carriage.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Heimatdienst Buxheim e.V.

Admission & discounts

Prices per person; individual visitors €6.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's tours (for children aged 6 to 12, about 90 minutes with a search game, also bookable for children's birthday parties) and an activity booklet with the Charterhouse mouse Ignaz for independent discovery.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the Kartausenmuseum, with the ticket desk, is in the north of the complex (St.-Bruno-Haus, near the town hall). The Charterhouse is signposted and about 1 km from the Iller bike path.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with books, sheet music, and souvenirs related to the Charterhouse.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit