One of Europe's largest collections of self-playing musical instruments, housed in Bruchsal's Baroque palace – admission is included in the palace ticket.
September 25, 2026 – September 26, 2027
A themed trail through the permanent exhibition about the Black Forest as an export hub for mechanical music in the 19th century, the emigration of skilled workers, and the transfer of know-how; part of a tri-national exhibition series in the Upper Rhine region.
The museum is built around the collection of mechanical musical instruments assembled by Jan Brauers of Baden-Baden, which the state of Baden-Württemberg acquired in the early 1980s. On May 30, 1984, the Badisches Landesmuseum used it to open a branch museum called the “Museum Mechanischer Musikinstrumente” in the rebuilt Schloss Bruchsal, the former residence of the Prince-Bishops of Speyer.
In the years that followed, the collection was expanded in a targeted way, most recently in 2002 with the purchase of large parts of the Carlson Collection from Königslutter. After being reinstalled in a larger space, the museum has been called the “Deutsches Musikautomaten-Museum” since December 2003 and ranks among the most important specialist museums of its kind.
Several hundred instruments from the 17th century to the present are on display across three floors – from tiny musical movements and music boxes to barrel organs, automata, player pianos, and huge orchestrions. Since the reinstallation, settings such as a silent-movie theater, a dance hall, and a historic tavern show where these machines once played. The exhibition goes on to cover the phonograph, records, and digital media, and media stations let visitors call up sound samples.
Among the best-known pieces are a self-playing grand piano once owned by Konrad Adenauer, a Welte organ said to have been intended for the Titanic, and the “Tino Rossi” automaton. Admission also covers the palace's state rooms and the Städtisches Museum Bruchsal.
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children aged 6 and over, school and university students up to age 28, people doing voluntary service or voluntary military service, people with a disability rating (GdB) of 50 or more |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Children under 6 free. Anyone aged 15 or over counts as an adult unless eligible for a concession. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4companion free · Reduced with a disability rating (GdB) of 50 or more. |
| Students & apprentices | €4School and university students up to age 28. |
| Groups | €7.20 per personGroup price per person according to Schloss Bruchsal. Group tours of the museum: €75 on weekdays, €85 on weekends (foreign languages €90/€100), plus admission. |
| Families | €20 |
| Palace with guided tour | €10Reduced €5, family €25, groups €9 per person |
| Special palace tour | €12Reduced €6, family €30, groups of 20 or more €10.80 per person |
| Audio guide (multilingual) | €2 |
There is a joint ticket: the palace admission ticket (Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten) covers the palace rooms, the Deutsches Musikautomaten-Museum, and the Städtisches Museum Bruchsal. Prices may change during special exhibitions. The Schlosscard, Museums-PASS-Musées, and Landesfamilienpass are accepted.
Step-free access via a ramp at the southern side entrance; two elevators reach all palace and exhibition rooms. Accessible restrooms in the basement. Available to borrow free of charge: wheelchair (reservation recommended), folding stools, magnifying glasses, hand mirrors, and induction loops. Tours for blind and visually impaired visitors (with touch objects), in sign language, and in Easy Language; accessible parking space at the Gymnasium parking lot. Cobblestone paving in the cour d'honneur.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €20 |
The public tours are expressly suitable for families with children as well; plus programs for kindergartens (ages 5–6) and school classes.
Schlossgarten
S31 (toward Odenheim) or S32 (toward Menzingen) from Karlsruhe Hbf or Bruchsal station to the Schlossgarten stop.
Paid parking · 50 m to the entrance
Gymnasium parking lot at the Ehrenhof, about 50 m from the main entrance; paid Mon–Sat 8:00–18:00 (€0.10 per 5 minutes, minimum 30 minutes, maximum 4 hours).
Bike racks behind the Damianstor; the Schönbornroute leads directly to the palace.
Get directionsSchlosscafé Bruchsal in Palace Room 1; the Gasthaus zum Bären is closed until further notice. Lockers in the entrance area.
Up to 50 guests.
The “Historische Wirtschaft” in the museum, with its original tavern furnishings, can be rented for parties and corporate events with 30 to 50 guests (April–September from 16:30, October–March from 10:00); however, the English-language website lists it as closed until further notice. For weddings and celebrations, the palace administration also rents out rooms in Schloss Bruchsal.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Allowed for private use, without tripods or selfie sticks; no flash during guided tours. |
| Good to know | Public guided tours of the museum daily except Mondays at 11:00 and 15:00 (60 minutes, no registration required, free with admission, limited places). Group, kindergarten, and school tours by booking. Media stations play the sounds of selected instruments. Bags, backpacks, and umbrellas must go in lockers; dogs are not allowed except assistance dogs. |
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