Kempten-Museum

About the museum

The Kempten-Museum is the city museum of Kempten (Allgäu) and opened in December 2019 in the Zumsteinhaus on Residenzplatz. Its roots go back to the 1880s, when an antiquarian society began collecting evidence of city and regional history. From 1925 this collection was on display as the Allgäuer Heimatmuseum in the Kornhaus, most recently as the Allgäu-Museum, which closed in 2018.

The Zumsteinhaus was built in 1802 by the Zumstein merchant family, who had immigrated from Savoy, as a stately residence and business building for their textile and silk trade. Since the early 1960s it has belonged to the city and first housed a Roman museum, later a natural history museum. After these exhibitions were dissolved in 2015, the listed building underwent a thorough renovation starting in 2017.

The new concept was developed with broad citizen participation: in the two-year "Stadtexpedition" (city expedition), residents of Kempten contributed ideas, objects, and stories. Today eleven cross-era themed rooms – on power, faith, migration, health, or leisure, for example – lead from the Roman town of Cambodunum to the present. A 3D city model with a projection show, a cellar cinema, and many hands-on stations complement the exhibition.

The museum sees itself as an open "living room of the city" with free admission and was named "Best Local History Museum 2020". For people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments, it has been assessed under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All).

Highlights

• Walk-on city map and 3D city model with audiovisual show
• Eleven themed rooms from Roman times to today
• Counting house of the Zumstein textile merchant family in the historic Zumsteinhaus
• Hands-on, touch, smell, and listening stations throughout the building
• Cellar cinema with changing films
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Kempten in Raum und Zeit – The introductory room on the first floor offers a compact overview of the city's history with a walk-on city map.
• Themenräume – Eleven rooms on the second and third floors cover themes such as power, faith, transportation, migration, or leisure across eras; the highlight is the 3D city model with a projection show.
• Bei den Zumstein – The room on the first floor tells of the Zumstein textile merchant family, who had the house built in 1802.

Founded

2019

Operated by

Stadt Kempten (Allgäu), Kulturamt

Director

Dr. Christine Müller Horn

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free. Costs apply only for tours, workshops, and children's birthday parties; reductions and exemptions are governed by the City of Kempten's museum fee regulations.

Accessibility

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

Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (partially accessible for people with mobility, hearing, and visual impairments). Step-free access via the side entrance with a ramp, elevator to all exhibition rooms, accessible restroom on the first attic floor. Two accessible parking spaces at Residenzplatz. Induction loop system, tours in German Sign Language, tactile tours, and tours for people with dementia. Flyers in Easy Language; magnifiers and reading glasses at the ticket desk.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Activity trail with hands-on stations featuring the "Zumstein-Mäuse" (Zumstein mice) and an activity booklet for children (€1) with puzzles and a small prize. Regular children's workshops and holiday programs, a tour with figures from age 5, and coloring and craft sheets to download. Children's birthday parties for children aged 6 or 8 and over (€100 plus materials). Children under 10 only when accompanied by adults.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A7, B12, or B19 toward the city center. GPS address: Residenzplatz 31, 87435 Kempten (Allgäu).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café "Salon" on the first floor with coffee, tea, cake, and small snacks. Museum shop with regional Kempten products. Free use of restrooms, phone charging, and water bottle refilling available.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit