Idstedt-Museum
Bilingual museum in the historic memorial hall on the Battle of Idstedt in 1850 and the Schleswig-Holstein uprising.
About the museum
On July 25, 1850, the Schleswig-Holstein and Danish armies met at Idstedt, north of Schleswig. The battle is regarded as the climax of the three-year civil war over the affiliation of the Duchy of Schleswig; more than 1,400 soldiers were killed, around 5,000 were wounded, and the village largely burned down.
In the second half of the 19th century the site was developed into a central place of remembrance for the people of Schleswig-Holstein: the Idstedt Monument was built in 1869, followed later by a keeper's house and an armory for finds, uniforms, and documents. In 1930 the memorial hall, built in the Heimatschutz style to plans by Hans Philipp, opened. After closing due to the war in 1944, the museum reopened in 1949; in 1978 the newly founded Idstedt-Stiftung (Idstedt Foundation) took over as sponsor.
In 2005 the hall received an extension and a newly designed permanent exhibition, which is presented throughout in German and Danish. It explains the political background of the 1848 uprising and the course of the battle, and tells of the fate of soldiers on both sides through personal documents, uniforms, weapons, and equipment. War graves around the village and the monument continue to commemorate the fallen; every year on July 25 a German-Danish remembrance day takes place at the monument.
Highlights
- Fully bilingual exhibition (German/Danish)
- Uniforms, weapons, and personal documents of soldiers from both sides
- Historic memorial hall from 1930
- Idstedt Monument from 1869 and war graves in the surrounding area
- Annual remembrance day on July 25
Permanent exhibitions
- Die Schlacht bei Idstedt 1850 – Bilingual exhibition on the Schleswig-Holstein uprising and the battle of July 25, 1850, with text and picture panels, uniforms, weapons, and personal testimonies of the soldiers.
- Founded
- 2005
- Operated by
- Idstedt-Stiftung (Kreis Schleswig-Flensburg)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €1Children aged 10 and over, schoolchildren, and students €1 |
| Students & apprentices | €1 |
| Groups | –Group tour flat fee €35 (registration by email required) |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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 exhibition area is at ground level.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
The subject is a battle with heavy losses; the school tour is recommended from grade 7. For school classes there is a discovery tour with a quiz.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Idstedtkirche
By bus to the stop "Idstedtkirche."
On the K 44, at the Idstedtkirche intersection, north of Schleswig; also accessible for tour buses. GPS: Idstedtkirche 1, 24879 Idstedt.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
About 20 seats are available for registered groups; drinks and cake can be pre-ordered.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours for groups and school classes (45–60 minutes) in German and Danish with timely registration at idstedt-stiftung@schleswig-flensburg.de. For school classes there is a tour on the battle and a discovery tour with a quiz. |
