Elztalmuseum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to the late 19th century, when a mayor of Waldkirch collected antiquities. A dedicated local history museum was established in 1931 at the suggestion of the local carnival guild, initially in a villa on Neue Elzstraße. In the 1940s it lost its premises, and parts of the stored holdings were lost during the war and occupation. In 1965 the museum reopened in the Villa Gütermann, which soon became too small.

The former provost's residence of the collegiate chapter of St. Margarethen, a three-story Baroque building from 1753 to 1755 next to the collegiate church, was chosen as its permanent home. The building had previously housed, among other things, a cotton mill, a hotel with Emperor Wilhelm I as a prominent guest and, for almost 80 years, a school. After extensive renovation, during which the 18th-century room layout and stucco work were restored, the museum opened there in March 1985; it has been called Elztalmuseum since 1990.

Its focus is the building of self-playing musical instruments, which made Waldkirch internationally known from the 19th century onward. Barrel and fairground organs by the Bruder and Ruth companies and orchestrions by Weber, on permanent loan, are played during guided tours. In addition, the exhibition on the history of the town and valley covers the founding of the convent, gem cutting, the textile industry, Fasnacht (carnival) and regional art. The collection comprises many thousands of objects; changing special exhibitions, a Christmas market and an organ festival held every three years round out the program.

Highlights

• Playable barrel and fairground organs and orchestrions from Waldkirch workshops
• Barrel organ from the 1928 premiere of "The Threepenny Opera"
• Concert organ "Altobella Furiosa" designed by Otmar Alt
• Automatic band with five military musicians by the Weber company (around 1900)
• Baroque banquet hall of the former provost's residence

Permanent exhibitions

• Orgelbau in Waldkirch – Restored barrel and fairground organs, concert organs and orchestrions from Waldkirch workshops, played during guided tours and some coin-operated, plus documents on the history of building musical automatons.
• TalGeschichte(n) – Stadt- und Regionalgeschichte – Twelve rooms on two floors trace around 1,100 years of settlement history in the Elz valley, from the Lords of Schwarzenberg through gem cutting and the textile industry to the 20th century.
• Vom Stiftshaus zum Museum – Geschichte des Hauses – Stations integrated into the rooms tell the eventful story of the Baroque provost's residence as a collegiate residence, factory, hotel and school.

Founded

1931

Operated by

Stadt Waldkirch

Director

Angela Witt-Meral

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission every first Sunday of the month during Family Sunday (14:00–16:00), according to the museum; also on International Museum Day.

Waldkirch-Pass: 50% discount; contomaxx card of Sparkasse Freiburg – Nördlicher Breisgau: €1 off. Free admission also for members of the Förderverein Elztalmuseum and the Orgelförderkreis Waldkirch, with the KONUS Zweitälerland card and with the Oberrheinischer Museums-Pass.

Accessibility

• 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

Accessible according to the museum; all floors can be reached by elevator, accessible restroom in the basement. Dedicated programs for people with dementia.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Family Sunday on the 1st Sunday of every month from 14:00 to 16:00 (for children ages 4 and up, free). Mystery game for families with children ages 8 and up (version for adults ages 16 and up) included in admission. City guide diploma booklet for families (€3). Children's birthday parties with museum educator support (2 hours, up to 10 children).

Getting there & parking

By car from Freiburg via B 3 and B 294 toward the town center; the museum is on Probsteistraße.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available

Volunteer-run museum café Sundays 14:00–17:00 (also without museum admission).

Events & venue rental

As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.

Up to 99 guests.

Due to staff shortages, no rooms are currently being rented out (as of September 18, 2026). Generally available for rent: Baroque banquet hall (up to 90 people, also civil and non-religious wedding ceremonies), vaulted cellar with fairground organs (up to 99 people), museum café (up to 25 people) and the foyer for champagne receptions.

Plan your visit