Markgrafenmuseum

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1932, when the Historical Society for Middle Franconia and the city of Ansbach merged their collections. Since 1961 it has been housed in the Schnitzleinshof on what is now Kaspar-Hauser-Platz, a listed complex of buildings whose core dates back to the 15th century and which was extended several times up to the 18th century. Since 1984 the museum has also used an annex with building fabric from the 14th century; a walkable section of the late medieval city wall connects the two areas.

On the ground floor the museum is devoted to Kaspar Hauser, the enigmatic foundling who lost his life in Ansbach. Personal belongings and the theories about his origin are shown, without giving a definitive answer. The upper floors tell of the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach, a line of the Hohenzollerns, and of Ansbach as a residence town – with portraits of rulers, depictions of the courtly hunt and faience from the local manufactory.

Further rooms show natural history, prehistory and early history with fossils and excavation finds up to Roman times, Ansbach scholars and the history of the garrison. The Kunstverein Ansbach has supported the museum since 1978 with acquisitions and permanent loans. Changing special exhibitions complement the permanent exhibition.

Highlights

• The world's largest collection on Kaspar Hauser with personal belongings
• Ansbach faience, the "white gold" of the margraves' era
• Portraits of the margraves and scenes of the courtly hunt
• Walkable section of the late medieval city wall
• Ichthyosaurs and finds from prehistory and early history

Permanent exhibitions

• Kaspar Hauser – On the ground floor: the life, death and theories of origin of the foundling who died in Ansbach, with numerous personal belongings.
• Die Markgrafen von Brandenburg-Ansbach – On the upper floors: the residence town and court of the Ansbach Hohenzollerns with portraits, hunting scenes and faience from the local manufactory.
• Natur-, Vor- und Frühgeschichte – In the annex beyond the walkable city wall: fossils such as ichthyosaurs, archaeological finds up to Roman times, and the town's scholars and garrison.

Founded

1932

Operated by

Stadt Ansbach

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Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

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