Ikonen-Museum

About the museum

The museum is founded on a donation by Königstein physician Jörgen Schmidt-Voigt, who gave around 800 icons to the city of Frankfurt in 1988 – on the condition that part of them be permanently on public display. In March 1990 the museum opened in the converted refectory of the Baroque Deutschordenshaus (House of the Teutonic Order) by the Alte Brücke, at the eastern end of the Museumsufer. The interior was designed by architect Oswald Mathias Ungers as a modern insertion into the historic space.

Through purchases, donations and loans, the holdings grew to more than 1,000 objects. In 1999, 82 post-Byzantine and Russian icons from Berlin's Museum für Byzantinische Kunst were added as a long-term loan; some of them will return to Berlin in 2026. Organizationally, the museum is part of the Museum Angewandte Kunst.

After around 30 years, the exhibition was completely redesigned in 2020/21. Since then, some 130 restored icons and liturgical objects have been on view at eye level, mostly without display-case glass, with the focus on the relationship between people and icons. Since 2023, a dedicated cabinet has presented the art of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

Highlights

• Around 130 restored icons and liturgical objects, mostly displayed without glass
• Works from Russia, Greece, Romania, Egypt, Syria and Ethiopia
• Ethiopia cabinet with manuscripts, crosses and icons
• Interior design by Oswald Mathias Ungers in the Baroque Deutschordenshaus
• Monthly icon evenings with close looks at individual works

Permanent exhibitions

• Ikonen – Dauerausstellung – Redesigned presentation of around 130 icons and liturgical objects from several Orthodox traditions, exploring the role of images in religious life.
• Äthiopien-Kabinett – A dedicated room on Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity with icons, hand crosses, manuscripts and liturgical objects.

Founded

1990

Operated by

Stadt Frankfurt am Main (Museum Angewandte Kunst)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Satourday: free admission on the last Saturday of every month

Refugees and holders of the Frankfurt-Pass or Kulturpass pay €1. Free with the MuseumsuferCard, for members of the friends' association and for ICOM members.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

First floor wheelchair-accessible, the gallery level is not. Step-free access via the courtyard entrance next to Elisabethenstraße 16; restrooms only partly wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit