Historisches Museum der Pfalz

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to the 1820s, when a collection of antiquities was established in Speyer. In 1869 the holdings of the Historischer Verein der Pfalz (Palatinate Historical Society) were combined with those of the Bavarian Palatinate district and the city of Speyer and initially shown in a school building.

For the growing collection, the Munich architect Gabriel von Seidl, who had also built the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, designed a historicist museum building right on the Domplatz (cathedral square), which was inaugurated in 1910. Since 1985 the museum has been run by the Stiftung Historisches Museum der Pfalz, whose members include the Bezirksverband Pfalz, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the city of Speyer, the Diocese of Speyer, the Protestant Church of the Palatinate and the Historical Society. An extension was added in the early 1990s.

The collection comprises several hundred thousand objects from prehistory to the present, including the Golden Hat of Schifferstadt, the 4th-century Roman wine in the Wine Museum, and the cathedral treasury with finds from the imperial tombs. The museum is known far beyond the region for its major special exhibitions, for example on the Salians, Richard the Lionheart and the Habsburgs. Several collection areas are currently closed due to renovation work.

Highlights

• Burial crown of Emperor Conrad II in "Kreuz und Krone"
• Textiles from the imperial tombs in Speyer Cathedral
• Golden Hat of Schifferstadt (currently not on display)
• Roman wine, the oldest surviving wine (currently not on display)
• Museum building by Gabriel von Seidl on the Domplatz
• Major cultural history special exhibitions

Permanent exhibitions

• Kreuz und Krone – Collection exhibition on some 1,500 years of history of the Diocese of Speyer, with the cathedral treasury and finds from the imperial and royal tombs, including the burial crown of Conrad II.

Founded

1910

Operated by

Stiftung Historisches Museum der Pfalz Speyer

Director

Simone Heimann

Admission & discounts

The base price applies to the collection exhibition "Kreuz und Krone". Special exhibition tickets include the collection exhibitions and cost more on weekends and public holidays.

Accessibility

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

Certified "Barrierefreiheit geprüft" (Reisen für Alle accessibility label). Step-free access via the side entrance on the left; all exhibition rooms are step-free except the last two rooms of the Wine Museum. Loaner wheelchairs and folding stools, accessible restroom on the first floor, three accessible parking spaces on Große Pfaffengasse; certified assistance dogs allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Workshops for children (e.g., with LEGO elements, approx. 2 hours) and accompanying programs for the exhibitions; children's birthday parties on request. Step-free access via the side entrance; changing facilities in the accessible restroom on the first floor; picnic area.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café Forum in the covered inner courtyard (also open without museum admission, closed in August/September 2026); picnic area; museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 400 guests.

Forum (glass-roofed inner courtyard, 500 m², up to 400 people, stage and technical equipment) and Kabinett (66 m², 20–70 people) for celebrations, corporate events, conferences and seminars.

Plan your visit