Haus der Natur Cismar

About the museum

The museum's foundation is the private collection of Vollrath Wiese, who specialized in snails and mussels as early as 1974 at the age of twelve. When the collection outgrew the family home, it moved in 1979 to converted garages behind Cismar Monastery. Because passing vacationers asked for a visit, the family opened the "Kleines Haus der Natur" (Little House of Nature) to the public in July 1979; the following year more than 10,000 guests came.

In the 1980s the exhibition, scientific reference collection, and specialist library grew steadily, and an extension was added in 1985. At the suggestion of the state and the municipality, in 1989 the family bought the ruin of the former inn "Lindenhof" in the village center, a brick building erected around 1880. With public funding, a lot of their own work, and the support of the friends' association founded in 1991, it was rebuilt by 1994; in April 1995 the museum opened at its present location on the B 501.

The building and collections remain privately owned to this day, and the museum is run entirely by volunteers. On more than 500 square meters it presents minerals, fossils, mounted animals, insects, and corals; the focus is on more than 5,000 species of snails and mussels. Behind the scenes is stored a research collection of several million mollusk shells, one of the largest private collections of its kind in the world. The grounds include a herb garden modeled on a monastery garden and a pond with European pond turtles.

Highlights

• More than 5,000 species of snails and mussels on display
• Minerals, fossils, and mounted birds and mammals
• Monastery garden with around 100 herb species
• Pond with native pond turtles in the museum garden
• Audio information system "Ohrmuschel" with around 50 stations

Permanent exhibitions

• Schnecken und Muscheln – Shells of more than 5,000 mollusk species from around the world, from tiny forms to specimens a meter long, including many rarities.
• Naturkundliche Schausammlung – Minerals, fossils, mounted birds and mammals, insects, crustaceans, and corals from the region and from other continents.
• Klostergarten und Außenanlage – Signposted herb garden with culinary and medicinal plants modeled on a monastery garden, nesting aids, and a pond with pond turtles.

Founded

1979

Operated by

Privatmuseum der Familie Wiese, ehrenamtlich betrieben

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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

Both floors are accessible by wheelchair or walker; the team helps with using the elevator, and a companion is recommended. One restroom is designed for wheelchairs and walkers. Tactile tours (especially of snails and mussels) by registration. The audio information system offers the texts audible and readable on your smartphone. Animals are not allowed in the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Museum scavenger hunts and companion sheets on around 35 topics, interactive computer learning games in the exhibition. Weekly children's and youth group "Junge Naturforscher" (Young Naturalists) Thursdays 16:00–18:00 (outside school holidays) and an annual children's and youth day in August. In the garden you can observe pond turtles, insects, and birds.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 1, exit Lensahn, then follow the "Kloster Cismar" signs; the museum is 150 m from the monastery on the B 501. GPS: Bäderstraße 26, 23743 Cismar.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Sale of museum guides, identification cards, postcards, and small souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit