Heimatmuseum Bergen-Enkheim
Local history museum in Bergen's half-timbered town hall – closed since 2015, with a new installation planned after renovation.
About the museum
The impetus came from teacher Werner Henschke, who in the 1950s collected illustrative material for his local history lessons. In 1956 he and Conrad Weil appealed in the local newspaper for donations for a local history museum; on March 29, 1958, the collection opened in a classroom of the Alte Schule in Bergen, run by a volunteer working group. As early as February 1959, the museum moved to the upper floor of the Altes Rathaus (old town hall), a half-timbered building in the historic village center, gradually taking over the whole building and, in 1979, the cellar as well.
On display were finds from the Paleolithic through the Bronze Age, Celtic, and Roman periods up to modern times, along with coins, weapons, porcelain, and tools from farming, fruit growing, and winemaking. A showpiece was a diorama with more than 2,000 tin figures depicting the Battle of Bergen in 1759 during the Seven Years' War. In 1975 the supporting association was registered, and since 1990 it has published the journal “Spilhus”.
Because the town hall had become structurally unsound, the museum had to close in November 2015 and the collection was moved into storage. Renovation of the building began in 2022. Afterward, the museum will have only about 150 square meters of exhibition space on the upper floor; with funding from the State of Hesse, the association is developing a new concept that will also cover the local history of the 20th century. Setup and installation are scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
Highlights
- Historic half-timbered town hall (“Spilhus”) in the center of Bergen as the museum building
- Tin figure diorama of the Battle of Bergen in 1759
- Local finds from the Stone Age to the Roman period
- Tools for farming, fruit growing, and apple wine production
- Founded
- 1958
- Operated by
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Heimatmuseum Frankfurt am Main – Bergen-Enkheim e.V.
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
Heimatmuseum Bergen-Enkheim
Bus 42 and 43 to Heimatmuseum Bergen-Enkheim.
By car
Parking available at the nearby Stadthalle Bergen.
Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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