Museum Humpis-Quartier

About the museum

The Humpis-Quartier on Ravensburg's Marktstraße is an unusually well-preserved late medieval residential quarter; its oldest parts date back to the 11th century. In the 15th century the patrician Humpis family shaped the ensemble. Hans Humpis, several times mayor and head of the Great Ravensburg Trading Company, lived in the house at Marktstraße 45 with its artfully furnished oriel room.

Later the buildings were divided up: at the end of the 18th century two tanner brothers lived here, and from 1842 the Rösch family ran a wine tavern with the magnificent Green Hall, which remained a meeting place for the town for about 150 years and closed in 1992.

After the Museumsgesellschaft (museum society) made a first corner house accessible in 2003, conversion into the municipal museum began in 2005, and it opened in July 2009. A glass-roofed courtyard connects the historic houses with modern architecture; the concept was honored, among other things, with the first Lotto Museum Prize Baden-Württemberg in 2015. The exhibition shows the living worlds of leather craftsmen, long-distance merchants, and tanners, supplemented by cabinets on, for example, the Swabian children (Schwabenkinder) and early witch persecution.

For some years now, the permanent exhibition has been gradually developed into a city museum that gives greater attention to Ravensburg's history and population. By 2029, new areas are being created such as "Aufbruch in die Demokratie 1848–1918" (Awakening to Democracy 1848–1918), the participatory project "Museum Kollektiv," and a visible storage depot; the museum remains open throughout.

Highlights

• Oriel room of the long-distance merchant Hans Humpis
• Living worlds of the leather craftsman, long-distance merchant, and tanner family
• Glass-roofed courtyard between the historic houses
• Cabinets on the Swabian children and witch persecution
• New section "Aufbruch in die Demokratie 1848–1918"

Permanent exhibitions

• Lebenswelten im Humpis-Quartier – A tour through the historic houses tracing the everyday life of a leather craftsman, a long-distance merchant, and a tanner family over several centuries.
• Aufbruch in die Demokratie 1848–1918 – New exhibition area on the political and social upheavals in Ravensburg from the 1848 revolution to the end of the Empire.
• Schaudepot – Selected collection pieces in the storage depot with a museum workshop, offering a look behind the scenes of museum work.

Founded

2009

Operated by

Stadt Ravensburg

Director

Sabine Mücke

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Museum Fridays with €1 admission, in 2026 still on 10/30, 11/13, and 12/18.

Free admission with the AusZeit-Card and Ticket-Tafel; €2 discount with the bwegt or Deutschland-Ticket (bwegtPlus) and the ECHT Bodensee Card. Media guide free against a deposit.

Accessibility

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

Largely accessible, all floors reachable by elevator. However, the historic landmark building has low doors, thresholds, and uneven floors where wheelchair and walker users sometimes need assistance. Guide dogs and assistance dogs allowed. Information in Easy Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Free museum scavenger hunt for 8- to 12-year-olds as a booklet or in the app (about 1–1.5 hours); family tours through the quarter. Children and young people up to age 18 free.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

HUMPIS restaurant in the quarter (Marktstraße 47); bookshop; coat check and lockers on the first floor and in the basement.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 100 guests.

Glass-roofed courtyard with a small stage for up to 100 people, May to October from 19:00 until midnight, rental €476; booking and catering through the HUMPIS restaurant.

Plan your visit