Militärhistorisches Museum auf der Festung Königstein

The permanent exhibition "Faszination Festung" of the Militärhistorisches Museum in the Neues Zeughaus (New Arsenal) of Königstein Fortress, with around 200 exhibits.

Opening hoursAdmission €13 Wheelchair accessible

Website Directions

About the museum

The Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden operates a branch at Königstein Fortress. Since June 2020 it has shown the permanent exhibition "Faszination Festung" (Fascination of Fortresses). In twelve chapters it asks what castles and fortresses meant as places of refuge and symbols of power, and how defense and siege have changed over millennia.

The exhibition is housed in the New Arsenal. The building was constructed in 1631 as the Johannissaal above the gateway and initially served as a festive hall. From 1790 a fireproof stone vault replaced the wooden structure; in 1806 a fire damaged the roof. After the rebuilding of 1816, the building was used as a store for weapons and equipment. During the Franco-German War, prisoners of war were housed here, and in 1930 the first exhibition on the history of the fortress opened in the building.

The exhibition spans from a Stone Age club head to weapons of the atomic age, and asks whether fortified places still offer security in view of modern weapons. Special features include a gun with a lowering mechanism that exists in this form only at Königstein.

Highlights

Twelve chapters on the history of fortresses and places of refuge
Around 200 exhibits from prehistory to the present
Opening scene featuring a knight and the Terminator
Unique lowering gun of Königstein Fortress
Exhibition location in the historic New Arsenal of 1631

Permanent exhibition

Faszination Festung – Twelve chapters with around 200 exhibits on fortresses as places of protection, power, and destruction, in the New Arsenal.

Operated by: Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr

Admission & discounts

Adults	€13
Reduced	€10Pupils from age 7, students, trainees, people with disabilities (degree of disability above 50), participants in voluntary service, recipients of Bürgergeld (citizen's benefit) and social benefits, traveling journeymen (with proof)
Children & teens	freefree up to age 5 · Children under 6 free; pupils from age 7 reduced
Visitors with disabilities	€10companion free · For a degree of disability above 50, proof required
Students & apprentices	€10With proof
Families	€322 adults with up to 4 children under 17
Mini family ticket (1 adult with up to 2 children under 17)	€19

Admission to the permanent exhibition is free; however, access to the fortress requires a fortress ticket (prices listed). Free admission with the Sächsischer Familienpass (Saxon family pass).

Accessibility

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

Ramp access to the permanent exhibition, passenger elevator year-round, panoramic elevator April through October. Tactile models, raised lettering and Braille information, a video guide in German Sign Language, and an audio guide in Easy Language. Assistance dogs free of charge; free parking for vehicles with a disability parking permit.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By public transit

Am Königstein · 5-min walk

S-Bahn S1 to Königstein, then the Festungsexpress (fortress shuttle). Bus lines 241 and 246 to "Am Königstein". Ship of the Sächsische Dampfschifffahrt from Dresden or Bad Schandau to Königstein, then the Festungsexpress.

By car

Paid parking · 650 m to the entrance

Fortress parking garage on the B172 (Festung exit), open year-round around the clock: up to 1 hour €2, up to 4 hours €8, day ticket €13. Motorhomes from €13, motorcycles free, buses €10. Vehicles with a disability parking permit park free directly in front of the fortress (4 hours).