Diözesanmuseum Limburg

About the museum

Bishop Dominikus Willi founded the Diözesanmuseum (diocesan museum) in 1903; from 1905 the artworks, collected mainly by Vicar General Matthias Höhler, were on display in the former palace of the Electors of Trier. At that time the cathedral treasury was shown separately in the former Franciscan friary. Between 1951 and 1960 the museum was reorganized, and it remained in its old rooms until 1976.

Since 1985 the cathedral treasury and the diocesan collection have been housed together in the Leyensches Haus on Domstraße, the last fully preserved Burgmannenhof (castle retainer's residence) in Limburg. The main building bears the date 1544; the upper floor and mansard roof date from the 18th century. When it was converted into a museum, it received a ramp, an elevator and a strongroom in the basement, where the principal pieces of the cathedral treasury are displayed.

After several years of renovation, a newly designed permanent exhibition opened in 2011; in 2012/13 the Mariengarten (Garden of Mary) was laid out along the Nonnenmauer. Since 2019 the first floor of the former bishop's residence and the chapel, with stained-glass windows designed by Johannes Schreiter, have also been part of the tour. The most important piece is the Limburg Staurotheke: this reliquary of the True Cross, made in Constantinople around 964/965, was brought to the Moselle by the knight Heinrich von Ulmen after the city was conquered in 1204, and in 1835 it came to the young diocese as a gift from the Duke of Nassau. It is considered one of the most important surviving works of Byzantine goldsmithing.

Highlights

• Limburg Staurotheke – Byzantine reliquary of the True Cross from around 964/965
• Staff of St. Peter from the Ottonian period
• Baroque insignia of the Electors of Trier
• Chapel in the bishop's house with stained-glass windows designed by Johannes Schreiter
• Mariengarten along the historic Nonnenmauer

Permanent exhibitions

• Domschatz mit der Limburger Staurothek – In the basement strongroom, the museum displays the principal pieces of the Limburg cathedral treasury, above all the Byzantine reliquary of the True Cross.
• Dauerausstellung zu Kunst und Geschichte des Bistums – Religious art from the early Middle Ages to the 20th century, expanded since 2019 with rooms in the bishop's house on the diocese's nearly 200-year history.

Founded

1903

Operated by

Bistum Limburg

Director

Eva Maria Breisig

Admission & discounts

Free admission for members of the Deutscher Museumsbund, the Deutscher Verband für Kunstgeschichte, ICOM and the Verband der Restauratoren, as well as with the Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card) of Kreis Limburg-Weilburg, the RheinMain Card or a Celebret.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

The museum courtyard and museum are reached via a ramp; a spacious elevator connects the three exhibition floors. Step-free access to Domstraße via the streets Nonnenmauer or Fischmarkt.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 3 (Limburg-Süd and Limburg-Nord exits) and the B 8, B 49, B 54 and B 417. The museum is on the cathedral hill; step-free footpath to Domstraße via Nonnenmauer or Fischmarkt.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with catalogs and publications on the collection, special exhibitions and Limburg's churches (also available to order).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit