Stadtmuseum Ellrich

About the museum

The museum is housed in the former St. Spiritus hospital, a late medieval ensemble that grew up outside the town wall on a trade route to Nordhausen. It consists of two half-timbered houses and a small church. A statute of the hospital has survived from 1590 and regulated the life of the poor hospital inmates down to the smallest detail. Later a Klingelhaus (bell house), a barn and a toilet building were added. The Klingelhaus was home to the so-called Klingelleute (bell men), who until 1875 collected alms in the surrounding countryside on behalf of the town council.

One of the two half-timbered houses is now used by the municipal kindergarten; the other houses the town museum with its outbuildings. The hospital church is no longer used for worship, but for weddings, concerts and events. It contains a late Gothic altarpiece of Mary from the 15th century.

In former chambers, in the barn and in the Klingelhaus, the exhibition shows how the hospital inmates lived, with living quarters, an infirmary and a plague room, and tells the history of Ellrich from its first mention in 876 to its time as a border town in the GDR era. Particular highlights are the recreated craft workshops, such as a saddler's workshop, a hairdresser's room, a wigmaker, a clockmaker, a weaving room, a teacher's room, a sewing room and a pharmacy. The house is run by a volunteer association of interested residents.

Highlights

• Hospital ensemble St. Spiritus with half-timbered houses and hospital church
• Late Gothic altarpiece of Mary in the hospital church
• History of Ellrich and its clubs and societies
• Various recreated craft workshops
• Exhibition on the history of the hospital and the town
• Museum courtyard with event barn
• Museum festival on Open Monument Day on the second weekend of September
• Fairytale Advent calendar from 1 to 24 December

Operated by

Stadt Ellrich (ehrenamtlich betreut von der Interessengemeinschaft Stadtmuseum Ellrich)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission; donations towards the upkeep of the museum are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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

The museum is not accessible and not suitable for wheelchair users.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

There is plenty for children to discover; groups of children visit the museum for end-of-year celebrations, excursions and activity stations with crafts and quizzes.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

Refreshments only at selected events.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 30 guests.

Event barn for up to 30 people (unheated, usable only during the museum season) and a room for about 15 people, suitable for family gatherings, birthdays, class reunions and club meetings; the courtyard and barn are also available to couples marrying in the hospital church.

Plan your visit