Heimatmuseum Oettingen

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum goes back to the Verein für Heimatkunde im Ries, founded in 1908, today's Heimatverein Oettingen (local heritage society). As early as September 1908 the society moved into a room in the town hall, and in 1909 the collection was opened to the public. The museum then moved several times: in 1911 to the Reithaus (riding hall), in 1922 to the castle, and in 1939, after a re-display, into eight rooms of the town hall, where it remained until the 1980s.

In 1986 the museum rooms in the town hall were closed after a fire safety inspection. The city council designated the former vocational school building on Hofgasse as the new site; the city and the society agreed on joint sponsorship in a contract signed in 1990. On June 26, 1998, the newly designed house opened as a regional museum.

Today it presents the history of Oettingen across three floors, a walk-in depot, and rooms for changing special exhibitions. The collection comprises around 13,000 objects, including household goods, regional clothing, painted Ries cupboards, faience and two rare globes from 1601 and 1618. The society owns the collection; the city and the society act jointly as sponsors.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on town history from prehistory to the Bavarian country town
• Walk-in depot with around 13,000 objects
• Celestial globe from 1601 and terrestrial globe from 1618
• Painted Ries cupboards and regional costumes
• Section on Jewish life in Oettingen
• Faience from the Oettingen manufactory

Permanent exhibitions

• Stadtgeschichte Oettingen – The permanent exhibition traces the story from the Romans and Alamanni through the princely residence town with its confessional division to the Bavarian country town with its markets and trades, and shows Jewish life in the town.
• Begehbares Depot – The depot conveys town history through objects from the collection: household goods, furniture, clothing, globes and other rarities.

Founded

1909

Operated by

Stadt Oettingen und Heimatverein Oettingen

Director

Barbara Heinrich

Admission & discounts

Tickets are available on site only.

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

Low-barrier building: all exhibition areas on three floors can be reached by ramps or elevator.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit