Gottfried-Silbermann-Museum

About the museum

Frauenstein in the eastern Ore Mountains is the hometown of the organ builder Gottfried Silbermann, who grew up here, learned the craft from his brother Andreas in Strasbourg, and built a total of 46 organs that shaped Saxon organ building. The town has had a museum tradition for some time: around 1900 a collection of antiquities was established in the castle's gatehouse, which was lost in 1945; from 1953 a new collection was built up.

In 1983 the museum was given a new focus and opened in the castle as the Gottfried-Silbermann-Museum. In 1994 it received its most important piece: a faithful copy of the Silbermann organ from Etzdorf, which the Dresden workshop of Kristian Wegscheider built in parallel with the restoration of the original, which now stands in Bremen Cathedral. The organ is the centerpiece of the concert series "Frauensteiner Orgeltage" (Frauenstein Organ Days).

In November 2021 the museum moved into the renovated Stadthaus at Markt 4, a Neo-Renaissance building from 1870 that was built after the town fire of 1849. The new permanent exhibition is spread over three levels: on the gallery, it is about Silbermann's life, family, and milieu, supplemented by excerpts from the travel diaries of his nephew Johann Andreas; the hall is devoted to organ and instrument building with working models and original parts; in the basement, the history of the town and castle of Frauenstein is told. The museum also looks after the nearby Frauenstein castle ruins.

Highlights

• Playable copy of the Silbermann organ from Etzdorf
• Concert series "Frauensteiner Orgeltage"
• Playable working models of an organ
• Town and castle history in the historic basement with animated film
• In summer, a combined ticket with the Frauenstein castle ruins

Permanent exhibitions

• Gottfried Silbermann – Familie, Freunde, Frauenstein – On the gallery, the focus is on the life, work, and milieu of the organ builder, supplemented by excerpts from the travel diaries of his nephew Johann Andreas Silbermann.
• Orgel- und Instrumentenbau – The organ hall shows the playable copy of the Etzdorf Silbermann organ, instrument models to try out, and original parts of historic organs.
• Stadt- und Burggeschichte – In the basement, Frauenstein's history as an administrative town, mining, agriculture, and the castle are presented with analog and digital means.

Founded

1983

Director

Cornelia Ferguson

Admission & discounts

The base prices given apply in the winter half-year (November 1 – April 30, museum only). In the summer half-year a day ticket for the museum and castle ruins applies, from €7. Commercial photography permit €25.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

All floors of the museum can be reached by elevator for wheelchair users. All exhibition texts are recorded and can be accessed via QR codes or audio guides; plus numerous listening stations.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Instrument models to try out and an animated short film on the town's history. During school holidays there were animated-film projects for schoolchildren; at the castle ruins, the castle ghost Vrouwin accompanies children on the tour.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings are possible at the Frauenstein castle ruins.

Plan your visit