Kreisheimatmuseum Gerolstein

About the museum

The museum is housed in the former rectory of Sarresdorf, now a district of Gerolstein, which appears as early as 762 in a donation by King Pippin and his wife Bertrada to Prüm Abbey. After Guelders troops burned down the rectory in the War of Succession in 1542/43, the house was rebuilt in 1543; pastors lived here until 1834. It is considered the oldest building in the town.

Since 1958 the house has held the district's local history museum. In spring 1997 it had to close because of dilapidation. In 2003 the Engels family acquired the building, had it restored with the monument preservation authority and has since run the Kreisheimatmuseum again as a private house. On the grounds, two half-timbered houses about 300 years old from Retterath and Demerath were also rebuilt: in the first, a museum café opened in May 2010, and the second has served as a wine house since 2012; a historic bakehouse was added in 2013.

The exhibition shows the post-medieval living culture of the Eifel with furniture from the Renaissance through Biedermeier to Empire, including the canopy bed of the Countess of Arenberg from Kasselburg. Sacred objects and small sculptures testify to popular piety. In the hallway hang fireback plates (Takenplatten) from the Eifel ironworks of Jünkerath, Müllenborn, Eisenschmitt and Manderscheid; also on display are a ceramics collection from Speicher, Raeren and the Rhineland, a complete Gerolstein forge and three early wooden bicycles with front-wheel drive.

Highlights

• Former rectory of 1543 – Gerolstein's oldest building
• Canopy bed of the Countess of Arenberg from Kasselburg
• Fireback plates from Eifel ironworks
• Fully furnished Gerolstein forge
• Three wooden pedaleur bicycles, built in Gerolstein as a master's piece

Permanent exhibitions

• Eifeler Wohnkultur – Furnished rooms of the old rectory with Eifel furniture, sacred objects, fireback plates, ceramics and a historic forge.

Founded

1958

Operated by

Familie Engels (privat)

Admission & discounts

Others entitled to a reduction pay like children, €1.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

The Erlöserkirche and the Roman villa Sarabodis with its museum are in the immediate vicinity.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Museum café "Alt Sarresdorf" in a rebuilt half-timbered house (approx. 35 seats inside, 30 in the garden); also a wine house and historic bakehouse on the museum grounds.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit