Deutsches Romantik-Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The idea of a museum for Romanticism goes back to Ernst Beutler, the long-serving director of the Freies Deutsches Hochstift. Since the early 20th century, the Hochstift has collected manuscripts, books and pictures of the Romantic period, and today it holds one of the most important collections on the era, from Novalis and the Brentano siblings to Joseph von Eichendorff.

The project took concrete shape in the 2010s: following an architectural competition launched in 2013, a new building designed by Christoph Mäckler was erected on the site next to the Goethe-Haus, with urban integration by Landes & Partner. The foundation stone was laid in 2016 and the topping-out ceremony held in 2017. Difficulties with the demolition and the insolvency of construction firms involved delayed the opening, originally planned for 2019.

The Deutsches Romantik-Museum opened on September 14, 2021. The permanent exhibition extends over two floors and approaches Romanticism in 35 stations featuring originals from the Hochstift's collections, complemented by multimedia installations. A staircase painted blue and a blue bay window allude to the "blue flower" as the symbol of Romanticism.

The same building houses the Goethe-Galerie with paintings from the age of Goethe, a manuscript studio for smaller temporary exhibitions and an area for special exhibitions. The museum and the Goethe-Haus are run jointly and visited on a single ticket.

Highlights

• Eichendorff's manuscript of the poem "Wünschelrute" (1835)
• Manuscripts by Novalis and the Brentano siblings
• "Himmelstreppe" (stairway to heaven): blue staircase with a perspective illusion
• Goethe-Galerie with paintings from the age of Goethe
• 35 stations on Romantic literature, art and music

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung Romantik – Across two floors, 35 stations with originals from the Hochstift explore Romanticism as an era, an artistic program and a way of feeling about life.
• Goethe-Galerie – Paintings and portraits from the age of Goethe from the collection of the Freies Deutsches Hochstift, in the new building.

Founded

2021

Operated by

Freies Deutsches Hochstift – Frankfurter Goethe-Museum

Director

Prof. Dr. Anne Bohnenkamp-Renken

Admission & discounts

One ticket is valid for the Deutsches Romantik-Museum and the Frankfurter Goethe-Haus. Frankfurt Card €6, Kulturpass €1. Free with the MuseumsuferCard or MuseumsuferTicket, ICOM card, Ehrenamts-Card Hessen (Hesse volunteer card) and for members of the Hochstift. Tickets only at the museum ticket desk, no online reservations. No free admission on Satourday.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The new building with the Romantik-Museum, Goethe-Galerie and temporary exhibition area is accessible to guests with limited mobility; rollator available on request. Wheelchair-accessible restroom according to the Museumsufer portal. The neighboring historic Goethe-Haus can only be reached by stairs. Media guide also available in plain language; tours in easy-to-read language and for blind and visually impaired visitors can be booked. Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Free family tours and workshops on SaTOURday (registration required), creative activities and a reading series for children. Strollers are not allowed in the exhibition and are kept at the ticket desk.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Free lockers (€1 or €2 coin); bags larger than A4 must be stored. Free Wi-Fi. Online shop of the Hochstift; no information on an on-site café or shop.

Events & venue rental

No information on venue rental found on the Hochstift's websites.

Plan your visit