Fürstlich-Fürstenbergische Sammlungen

About the museum

Beginning in 1865, Prince Karl Egon III zu Fürstenberg had his architect Theodor Dibold convert a vacant tithe barn on today’s Karlsplatz into a building for his collections. Raised by one story, the building was given a magnificent facade with portrait medallions of naturalists and artists such as Humboldt, Linnaeus, and Dürer. In 1868 the prince opened his collections to the public – conceived not as a cabinet of curiosities but as a systematically assembled place of learning for the former Fürstenberg territories.

Originally, the Karlsbau brought together natural history, medieval and Renaissance paintings, and plaster casts of ancient sculpture. The Old Masters collection was sold in 2003 and is now a focal point of the Sammlung Würth; further altarpieces followed in 2012/13. Since 2012, the top floor has instead housed “Fürstenberg Zeitgenössisch,” the contemporary art collection of Hereditary Prince Christian and Hereditary Princess Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, whose cabinets were partly designed together with the artists.

The two lower floors retain their furnishings from the time of construction; these are listed as a historic monument and deliberately presented as a “museum within the museum.” The first floor holds fossils, minerals, and rocks, including the Höwenegg finds with the primitive horse Hipparion and the proboscidean Deinotherium, as well as fossils from Öhningen on Lake Constance. On the second floor, the zoology department displays specimens from around the world that are roughly 150 years old, with a large bird collection and hunting trophies of the princely house.

Highlights

• Original museum furnishings from around 1870 as a “museum within the museum”
• Höwenegg finds with the primitive horse Hipparion and Deinotherium
• Fossils from Öhningen on Lake Constance
• Zoology department with a rearing bear and a large bird collection
• Artist rooms of the “Fürstenberg Zeitgenössisch” collection

Permanent exhibitions

• Fossilien, Mineralien und Gesteine – First floor with the original display cases from the 1860s: fossils from the Cambrian to the Quaternary, Höwenegg finds, and fossils from Öhningen.
• Zoologie – Natural history display from around 1870 with taxidermy specimens from around the world, a large bird collection, and hunting trophies of the princely house.
• Fürstenberg Zeitgenössisch – Contemporary art from the collection of the hereditary prince and princess, shown in cabinets and a skylit hall, partly installed as walk-in artist rooms.

Founded

1868

Operated by

Haus Fürstenberg (privat)

Director

Dr. Jörg Martin

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the DreiWelten Card.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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