Franz Marc Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

From 1908 on, Franz Marc repeatedly lived and worked in Kochel am See and in neighboring Ried; the landscape of the “Blaues Land” (Blue Land) shaped his work. After World War II, the friendship between Maria Franck-Marc, the painter’s widow, and the Munich gallery owners Etta and Otto Stangl gave rise to the idea of showing Marc’s work permanently in this place. In 1986, the Franz Marc Stiftung opened the museum in a villa above Lake Kochel, supported by loans from institutions including the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen (Bavarian State Painting Collections).

With the Stangls’ estate, the Stiftung Etta und Otto Stangl joined as a second sponsoring foundation. For its collection, an extension by the Zurich firm Diethelm & Spillmann was built in 2008; it is connected to the old villa by a courtyard and its large windows open up views of the lake and mountains. This added about 700 square meters of exhibition space.

Since then, the museum has shown more than 150 works by Franz Marc alongside works by his Blauer Reiter companions such as Kandinsky, Macke, Münter, and Klee, and by Brücke artists such as Kirchner and Heckel; works of postwar modernism place them in relation to later art. A sculpture park with works by artists such as Tony Cragg and Norbert Kricke surrounds the museum, and in 2023 a dedicated education building, the “BlauRaum,” was added. Since April 2024, Jessica Keilholz-Busch has directed the museum, succeeding Cathrin Klingsöhr-Leroy.

Highlights

• More than 150 works from Franz Marc’s estate
• Works by the Blauer Reiter (Kandinsky, Macke, Münter, Klee) and Die Brücke
• Extension by Diethelm & Spillmann (2008) with lake views
• Sculpture park with works by artists including Tony Cragg and Norbert Kricke
• “BlauRaum” education building (2023)

Permanent exhibitions

• Franz Marc und der Blaue Reiter – Permanent collection with works by Franz Marc in the context of his companions from the Blauer Reiter and Die Brücke, as well as art after 1945.
• Skulpturenpark – Outdoor sculptures placed around the museum, including works by Tony Cragg and Norbert Kricke, with an audio walk in the web app.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Franz Marc Stiftung und Stiftung Etta und Otto Stangl

Director

Jessica Keilholz-Busch

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the permanent collection, the special exhibition, and the audio guide via web app. During the exhibition changeover (September 30 – October 10, 2026), a reduced admission of €9.50 applies.

Accessibility

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

All exhibition areas, the café, and the BlauRaum are step-free or reachable by elevator; accessible restrooms on the first floor and in the BlauRaum. The footpath from the public parking lots is steep in places – visitors with limited mobility can be dropped off right at the entrance (access via Alte Straße/Franz Marc Park 7), where there are three accessible parking spaces. Audio guides with audio description, Easy Read German, and transcripts. Assistance dogs allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Free children's audio guide (ages 4–14) at the ticket desk, hands-on room on Henri Matisse, workshops, holiday program, age-appropriate tours, and children's birthday parties (2 or 3 hours, up to 12 children). Strollers allowed, loan strollers available.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum café "Franz am See" (cake, light meals, ice cream). Backpacks and larger bags must be put in lockers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Spaces available for rent include the exhibition rooms (exclusive opening), café, foyer, viewing room, the BlauRaum studio building, and the courtyard – for weddings, conferences, corporate events, private parties, and children’s birthday parties.

Plan your visit