Dommuseum Meißen

About the museum

The Dom-Museum belongs to Meissen Cathedral on the Burgberg and is run by the Hochstift Meißen, the oldest Protestant cathedral chapter in the world, which has existed without interruption since the Middle Ages. The tour follows the visit to the Gothic cathedral and leads into rooms that are otherwise “behind the scenes”.

In 2020 the museum was completely redesigned with support from the state, the Kulturraum, the Sparkassenstiftung and the Dombau-Verein. The Great Sacristy deals with spiritual life at the cathedral up to the present day, with vestments of the canons and two panels from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder. The Chapter Room, the meeting place of the cathedral chapter from 1490 into the 19th century, covers the period since the Reformation and the completion of the west towers, which were only finished between 1903 and 1909; Cranach's portraits of Luther and Melanchthon hang there.

In the anteroom of the chapter house, the museum shows how the Meissen chancery language became the basis of Luther's Bible translation; visitors can decipher old scripts and make their own stamps. In the lower level, media stations and an animated film tell the history of the castle, diocese and cathedral before the Reformation. In 2021 the Lapidarium was added, restored with federal funds, where capitals, gargoyles and sculptures can be seen up close.

Highlights

• Five works by the Cranach family of painters, including Luther and Melanchthon
• Historic Chapter Room of the cathedral chapter
• Media station on the Meissen chancery language
• Animated film on the founding of the castle and diocese of Meissen
• Lapidarium with gargoyles and sculptures

Permanent exhibitions

• Der lebendige Dom (Große Sakristei) – Spiritual life at the cathedral from the Middle Ages to the present, with vestments of the canons, liturgical objects and two panels from the Cranach workshop.
• Der Dom vor der Reformation (Untergeschoss des Kapitelhauses) – Media stations and a humorous animated film tell of the founding of the castle and diocese and the development of the cathedral in the Middle Ages.
• Lapidarium – Vaulted hall with original capitals, gargoyles and sculptures that show medieval stonemasonry up close.

Operated by

Hochstift Meißen

Admission & discounts

For tours and concerts, admission to the cathedral and Dom-Museum is included for the whole day. Online tickets without advance booking fee.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family tours during the Saxon school holidays Monday to Friday, e.g. with costumes, candlelight or a search game for animal depictions. The museum has media stations for children, a stamping station and creative activities in the Lapidarium. Children up to 5 years free. Tower visits only for those sure-footed and free of vertigo; children under 12 only with adults.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Cathedral shop with literature in several languages, candles, postcards and gifts; historic roof tiles from the cathedral available for a donation.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit