Donauschwäbisches Zentralmuseum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Donauschwäbisches Zentralmuseum (Danube Swabian Central Museum) is run by a foundation of the same name, jointly funded by the federal government, the state of Baden-Württemberg and the city of Ulm; the Danube Swabian homeland associations (Landsmannschaften) are also represented on its boards. Its mission under the Federal Expellees Act: to preserve, research and communicate the culture and cultural heritage of the Germans of the middle Danube region, thereby contributing to understanding with neighbors in Southeastern Europe. After five years of preparation, the museum opened on July 8, 2000.

It is housed in the Reduit of the Obere Donaubastion (Upper Danube Bastion), a defensive barracks almost 140 meters long belonging to the Federal Fortress of Ulm; completed in 1855, it has been a listed monument since 1974. After World War II the building served, among other things, as emergency housing for refugees and expellees, and later as rental space for businesses and associations. The city of Ulm bought the building from the federal government and had it renovated from 1995 to 2000; the museum occupies the first and second floors.

In 13 sections, the main exhibition tells the story of the emigrants who settled in the Kingdom of Hungary in the 18th century, their coexistence with Hungarians, Serbs, Croats and Romanians, and war, flight and expulsion in the 20th century. Between 2018 and 2022 it was completely renewed and supplemented with the permanent exhibition "Donau. Flussgeschichten" (Danube. River Stories). The steadily growing collection now comprises more than 50,000 objects; the museum has partnerships with museums in Romania, Serbia and Hungary.

Highlights

• Tour "Donauschwaben. Aufbruch und Begegnung" (Danube Swabians. Departure and Encounter) in 13 sections with eyewitness films
• Free media guide with dramatized scenes (German/English)
• "Donau. Flussgeschichten": 22 stories about life on the river, with an Ulmer Schachtel boat to steer yourself
• Fortress architecture: Reduit of the Obere Donaubastion from 1855
• Explorer case and explorer booklet for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Donauschwaben. Aufbruch und Begegnung – Main exhibition covering about 950 m² on the emigration, village life, neighborly relations and expulsion of the Germans of the middle Danube region, with hands-on stations and eyewitness films.
• Donau. Flussgeschichten – Bilingual exhibition with 22 stories about nature, cultures, navigation and flight along the river, from the Black Forest to the Black Sea.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Stiftung Donauschwäbisches Zentralmuseum

Director

Tamás Szalay

Visitors per year

approx. 16,258 (2024)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission every first Friday of the month, with a free guided tour at 15:30.

Free admission also applies to holders of the Ulm Card, Freiwilligencard and Lobbycard, teachers preparing lessons, and adults accompanying children's and school groups, among others.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Step-free entrance at the back of the building, elevator; apart from the cabinet, the exhibitions are accessible and offer seating. Accessible restroom on the first floor, loaner wheelchair at the ticket desk. Listening and smelling stations; assistance dogs allowed. Visitor information in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) on the website. For the special exhibition "Typisch donauschwäbisch!?" (Typically Danube Swabian!?, from November 27, 2026), tactile objects, a tactile floor guidance system and tours for blind and visually impaired visitors have been announced.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Free explorer case (ages 9–12) for the "Donauschwaben" exhibition and explorer booklet featuring Ubi the beaver for "Flussgeschichten" (at the ticket desk). Bookable interactive theater, fairy tale and explorer tours for 5- to 10-year-olds, as well as children's birthday parties (2.5 hours, max. 10 children). Hands-on stations in the exhibitions.

Getting there & parking

By car via the B 10/B 28 and the Konrad-Adenauer-Brücke; before the first traffic light turn right into Arsenalstraße and then immediately right again into Schillerstraße.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Museum shop with books, maps, crafts and toys from the Danube countries.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Two combinable conference rooms of 70 m² each (up to 40 people in theater seating) with presentation equipment, plus the 100 m² foyer on the second floor (up to 100 people for standing receptions). Guided tours for conference guests on request; caterers can be arranged.

Plan your visit