Klostermuseum Heidenheim

About the museum

Heidenheim on the Hahnenkamm is regarded as one of the Franconian founding monasteries. In the 8th century the Anglo-Saxon siblings Wunibald and Walburga established a monastery here, which became the nucleus of the Christianization of Middle Franconia. Around 1200 a Benedictine reform movement brought renewed spiritual flourishing; with the support of Emperor Barbarossa the house became a Benedictine monastery again. With the Reformation it was dissolved in 1535.

The complex, with the Romanesque minster of St. Wunibald, the late Gothic cloister and the burial chapel of Saint Walburga, later served for a long time as a Protestant church and as an educational and conference house. After restoration in 2017, two permanent exhibitions were set up in the former monastery rooms and completed in 2018.

One exhibition uses Heidenheim as an example to ask about the role of monasteries in medieval Europe, and shows artworks and liturgical objects from the Heidenheim church treasury in four rooms. The other is dedicated to ecumenism and the diversity of faith. The sponsor is the Zweckverband Kloster Heidenheim (association of municipalities).

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on monastery history with an interactive display case
• Romanesque minster of St. Wunibald
• Late Gothic cloister
• Burial chapel of Saint Walburga
• Exhibition on ecumenism and the diversity of faith

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte von Kloster Heidenheim – Four rooms show, using Heidenheim as an example, the role of monasteries in Christianization, the founding siblings, liturgical treasures and an interactive display case that responds to eye movements.
• Impulse für den Glauben – The exhibition in the cloister area examines ecumenism and the diversity of faith and complements the tour of the monastery complex.

Operated by

Zweckverband Kloster Heidenheim

Director

Reinhold Seefried

Admission & discounts

Tickets are available at the monastery shop.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Since the 2017 restoration there is a lift in the monastery shop, an accessible toilet and a suitable parking space nearby. Paths to the minster, the exhibitions, the cloister and the permanent exhibition are barrier-free; in some rooms door and staircase heights do not meet today's standards. Dogs are not allowed in the monastery complex. Information at +49 9833 7709888.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children's tours for ages 8 to 11 and 12 to 14, a monastery rally (on request with a monk's or nun's habit), a flashlight tour with torches from October to March, and mathematics in the church. Also special events such as organ fairy tales and craft activities at Easter and Advent; children's books in the monastery shop.

Getting there & parking

Located on the signposted cycle network; opposite the monastery there is an e-bike charging station, and the monastery shop lends charging cables. Navigation address: Ringstraße 8, 91719 Heidenheim.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Monastery shop with tourist information and regional products; cafeteria.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

Historic conference rooms (including the Benediktensaal in the west wing, with lift) and the monastery inner courtyard for events of up to approx. 150 people.

Plan your visit