Haus der Stadtgeschichte Heilbronn

About the museum

The Heilbronn City Archive is the memory of the city administration and at the same time a research and documentation centre for Heilbronn's history; its holdings go back to the 14th century. With a donation from the Heilbronn entrepreneur Otto Rettenmaier, the archive building in the Deutschhof was fundamentally rebuilt in 2011/12 and opened in July 2012 as the Haus der Stadtgeschichte. In the process, a second entrance from the inner courtyard of the Deutschhof was created alongside the entrance on Eichgasse, connecting the exhibition with the neighbouring Städtische Museen.

In two halls on either side of the foyer, the permanent exhibition "Heilbronn historisch! Menschen, Plätze, Geschichten" shows the development from an early medieval settlement to today's large city. The centrepiece is an interactively explorable model of the Imperial City around 1800; original objects from eight centuries, replicas, films, listening stations and media desks tell of industrialisation, the Nazi era, the destruction on 4 December 1944, reconstruction and change. An archive cinema with about 30 seats shows historical films, and a virtual version of the exhibition is available online.

The archive also includes the Lapidarium in the Alter Milchhof with around 300 stone monuments – inscriptions, gravestones, sculptures and architectural elements –, whose collection goes back to the Historical Museum founded in 1879. It is accessible only on guided tours.

Highlights

• Interactive model of the Imperial City of Heilbronn around 1800
• Multimedia journey through 1,200 years of city history with original objects
• Archive cinema with historical films about Heilbronn
• Lapidarium with around 300 stone monuments (guided tours only)
• Free admission, open until 7 pm on Tuesdays

Permanent exhibitions

• Heilbronn historisch! Menschen, Plätze, Geschichten – Staged tour through 1,200 years of city history with original objects, models, films and an interactive city model of the period around 1800; with archive cinema.
• Das Lapidarium – Around 300 stone witnesses to city history such as inscriptions, gravestones and architectural elements in the Alter Milchhof; accessible only on public or booked guided tours.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Stadt Heilbronn – Stadtarchiv

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the exhibition and the archive cinema is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Barrier-free access from Eichgasse; the permanent exhibition is on the ground floor. A film on city history in the archive cinema is also available in a version for the hearing impaired.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The exhibition offers children their own stations with simple media and playful elements. During the school term, on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 3 pm, free tours for primary school children without registration; accompanying adults are welcome.

Getting there & parking

Due to construction work on Eichgasse, access is currently restricted. By car, access only from the direction of the main station via the Neckar bridge, then right into Deutschhofstraße and, before the Peter und Paul church, left into Kirchbrunnenstraße. The exhibition can also be entered from the inner courtyard of the Deutschhof.

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