Diözesanmuseum St. Afra

Current exhibitions

About the museum

A museum displaying treasures of Augsburg Cathedral is documented since at least 1872, already with fixed opening hours and a first scholarly inventory. Because the rooms were not adequately protected against fire or theft, the collection was handed over on loan to the municipal Maximilianmuseum in 1910.

From the 1980s, the Diocese of Augsburg planned a museum of its own, not least in order to present the cathedral's Ottonian bronze door appropriately. Construction north and west of the cathedral cloister began in 1990; after a lengthy halt, the Diözesanmuseum St. Afra opened on July 3, 2000. It combines a new glass hall for the bronze door with historical rooms: the wing of the old cathedral monastery, rebuilt after the war; the Romanesque chapter house; and the Ulrichskapelle (St. Ulrich's Chapel), where archaeological windows reveal remains of Roman houses, the Carolingian cathedral, and the cathedral monastery from the time of Bishop Ulrich. The Late Gothic cathedral cloister with more than 400 funerary monuments is also part of the tour.

The permanent exhibition comprises around 200 objects from 17 centuries, including early silk fabrics, Carolingian belt fragments, two chasubles associated with St. Ulrich, the funeral arms of Emperor Charles V, goldsmith work, as well as panel paintings and sculptures. Temporary exhibitions – currently the series "Farbe bekennen" – and an extensive education program, including inclusive guided tours, round out the offering.

Highlights

• Bronze door of Augsburg Cathedral from around 1010
• Carolingian belt fragments and early silk fabrics
• Two chasubles associated with Bishop Ulrich
• Funeral arms of Emperor Charles V from 1559
• Romanesque chapter house and Ulrichskapelle with archaeological windows
• Cathedral cloister with 423 epitaphs and tomb slabs

Permanent exhibitions

• Sammlung des Diözesanmuseums – A tour through 17 centuries of Christian art in the glass hall, chapter house, and Ulrichskapelle – from Roman excavation finds and the bronze door to Baroque church treasures.
• Domkreuzgang – The cathedral cloister, built between 1479 and 1510, with its numerous funerary monuments is part of the museum tour.

Operated by

Diözese Augsburg

Director

Melanie Thierbach

Admission & discounts

Themed tours for individual visitors (when offered) €4 per person; children's tours and workshops €6 per person including admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Because of the historic building fabric, only about 60% of the exhibition space is step-free: rooms 1 and 2 are accessible, rooms 3 and 6 via elevators (door width 90 cm); steps lead to rooms 4 and 5 and to the gallery in room 2. Access via a wide paved ramp, no automatic door openers. Wheelchair-accessible restroom in the basement (elevator). Loaner reading glasses and magnifiers at the ticket desk, seating in all rooms. Tours for people with dementia can be booked.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Tours, themed tours and workshops for children's and youth groups by registration, including First Communion preparation; family ticket available.

Getting there & parking

By car via A8 (exit Augsburg-Ost) or B17 into the city center toward the cathedral.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

Coat check and lockers in the entrance area. Online shop on the website.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit