Kloster Museum St. Märgen
Museum in the former monastery of St. Märgen with Black Forest clocks, reverse glass painting, monastery history and everyday life in the High Black Forest.
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About the museum
The foundation of the museum is the private collection of local historian Andreas Schwär on Black Forest clock-making and regional history, which he first showed publicly in 1968. The municipality of St. Märgen bought the collection in 1979 and greatly expanded it in the following years. In 1988 the first exhibition on the Black Forest clock and old reverse glass paintings took place; in 1991 the Heimatmuseum (local history museum) opened.
Since 2000 a volunteer support circle of sponsors, lenders and museum friends has organized the museum's operations and exhibitions. After the municipal administration moved out, the museum took over the entire northeast wing of the former monastery from 2007; today more than 1,000 square meters are available for Black Forest history. In 2019 a friends' association was founded.
The permanent exhibition is spread across three floors. At its center are the Black Forest clocks and the worldwide trade in them, along with the monastery's history, works by the monastery sculptor Matthias Faller, reverse glass painting, and life and wartime on the Wald. Changing special exhibitions complement the museum.
Highlights
- Black Forest clocks and the history of the worldwide clock trade
- Works by monastery sculptor Matthias Faller
- Black Forest reverse glass painting and clock faces
- Monastery history and the Baroque monastery complex
- Audio guide in German, English and French
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung Schwarzwälder Uhrengeschichte und Klostergeschichte – Over 1,000 m² show Black Forest clocks, the worldwide clock trade, reverse glass painting, works by Matthias Faller, and the history of the monastery and of life on the Wald.
- Founded
- 1991
- Operated by
- Gemeinde St. Märgen
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3people with a degree of disability of 70% or more |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 14 · Children up to age 14 have free admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3From a degree of disability of 70%. |
| BZ-Card holders and one accompanying person (per person) | €4 |
| Special tour "Die Breisgauer Fünfer" (admission incl. tour) | €8Dates on Sundays at 14:00; no registration required |
Free admission with the Hochschwarzwald Card, Wälder Card, Museumspass and Schwarzwald Card. The Museumspass can be bought or renewed at the museum ticket desk. The guided tour of the permanent exhibition on Sundays and public holidays at 11:00 is included in admission.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: not available
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is largely wheelchair-accessible, and there is an elevator. Dogs are not allowed inside the museum.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum ticket desk sells the "Cella Sanctae Mariae" wine edition and the catalog "Holzräderuhren".
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, FR) |
| Good to know | Regular guided tour of the permanent exhibition on Sundays and public holidays at 11:00. Guided tours for groups of 6 or more on request through the municipal administration (07669 9118-0); church tours of the monastery church (approx. 1 hour) are arranged through the parish office (07669 91030). |
