Europa-Museum Etsdorf

About the museum

The driving force behind the museum is the Upper Palatinate artist Wilhelm Koch, who also founded the Luftmuseum in Amberg. Around 2000 he came up with the idea of building a modern “temple” near Etsdorf as a symbol of 2,500 years of democracy and of the European idea. The supporters’ association “Freunde der Glyptothek Etsdorf” was set up for this purpose in 2007, followed in 2008 by the Stiftung Glyptothek Etsdorf Oberpfalz.

In 2010 the municipality of Freudenberg handed the village’s former school building over to the supporters’ association and the Etsdorf sports club. Members of both clubs renovated it in more than 2,000 hours of voluntary work, and the Tempel-Museum opened here that same year. Since May 2026 it has been called EUROPA-MUSEUM. The two clubs share the building and its running costs; the museum is funded by donations, festivals and events.

The museum’s themes are Europe with its 47 countries and values such as peace, freedom, democracy and cultural diversity. It mainly shows artworks on these subjects, complemented by information panels, films and animations, as well as talks, music evenings and holiday programmes for children. Museum and temple lie within sight of the European route E50 and see themselves as a “cultural rest stop” for Europe where artists from different countries can work together.

About one kilometre from the museum, on a hill between Etsdorf and Högling, the Europa-Tempel “Glyptothek Etsdorf” was created. After several designs – including one by the Munich architect Peter Haimerl from 2018 – a green version was chosen in 2022: instead of stone columns, 47 columnar oaks, one for each country in Europe, trace the shape of an ancient colonnade. Its models are the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina and the Glyptothek in Munich. Funded in part by the LEADER programme, the foundation stone was laid on 9 May 2025 and the temple was inaugurated on Europe Day 2026. Since then the five-metre-high mirrored sculpture “Friedenstaube” (Dove of Peace) has also stood there.

Highlights

• Europa-Tempel “Glyptothek Etsdorf”: a grove of 47 columnar oaks for the 47 countries of Europe
• Mirrored sculpture “Friedenstaube” (Dove of Peace) by Torsten Mühlbach and Gregor Passens at the temple
• Art exhibitions on Europe and democracy in the former schoolhouse
• Holiday programmes for children all about Europe
• A “cultural rest stop” within sight of the European route E50

Permanent exhibitions

• Europa-Tempel „Glyptothek Etsdorf“ – In the open air, 47 columnar oaks – one for each country in Europe – form a colonnade modelled on ancient examples, conceived as a joint work by citizens for citizens and a symbol of democracy.
• Friedenstaube – Five-metre-high dove made of mirrored aluminium by Torsten Mühlbach and Gregor Passens at the Europa-Tempel; it reflects the sky, the landscape and visitors and stands for peace and understanding.
• Europa und Demokratie – In the former schoolhouse, information panels, films and animations permanently explain the background to the European idea and the temple project, complemented by changing art exhibitions.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Verein der Freunde der Glyptothek Etsdorf e. V.

Director

Wilhelm Koch

Admission & discounts

Guided tours of the museum or the Europa-Tempel cost €30 by arrangement, plus €3 admission per adult.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

As part of the Freudenberg municipality’s holiday programme, the museum offers creative activities for children all about Europe, led by the museum educator Felicitas Hölzl.

Getting there & parking

Etsdorf belongs to the municipality of Freudenberg and lies about 12 km from Amberg.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit