Missionsmuseum der Erzabtei St. Ottilien

About the museum

The Archabbey of St. Ottilien is considered the oldest Catholic mission house in Germany; in November 1887 the first missionaries set out for East Africa. At the suggestion of Fr. Andreas Amrhein, they sent back everyday objects, religious and artistic objects, hides, and plants, which were used to prepare the young candidates for their service.

The teaching collection grew quickly; in 1896 the monastery archive first mentions an "Afrika-Museum". After stops in an annex to the gatehouse and in the retreat house, from 1911 it moved into specially planned rooms in the new monastery wing. When the mission expanded to Korea from 1909, a new department was added and the museum was renamed Missionsmuseum; in the 1920s, pieces from Zululand in South Africa followed.

Today the holdings comprise about 5,000 objects, of which about 1,300 are displayed on three levels. The Africa collection documents household, crafts, music, and religion, the Korea collection mainly art and daily life of the Joseon period, which Archabbot Norbert Weber and his confreres acquired during the Japanese occupation. Lifelike prepared animals, mainly from Africa, and silent films from the 1920s complement the display.

From 2011 to 2015, the museum and storage depot were renovated and the exhibition redesigned without giving up the character of the historic mission collection. In parallel, a complete inventory and provenance research were carried out, completed in 2018. The museum has already returned objects to South Korea and has published its own restitution concept.

Highlights

• About 1,300 exhibits from Africa and Korea on three levels
• Korea collection with art and everyday objects of the Joseon period
• Animal specimens and large diorama on the wildlife of East Africa
• Silent films of the 1920s from Africa and Korea
• Free admission, monastery village with church, inn, and monastery shop

Permanent exhibitions

• Afrika-Sammlung – Objects from East Africa and Zululand on household, food acquisition, crafts, music, and religion, plus Makonde carvings.
• Korea-Sammlung – Art and everyday objects from the late Joseon period that the Missionary Benedictines collected in Korea from 1909.
• Naturhistorische Sammlung – Prepared animals, mainly from Africa, some staged in dioramas, show the collecting practices of a historic mission museum.

Founded

1896

Operated by

Erzabtei St. Ottilien

Director

P. Theophil Gaus OSB

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission; donations toward running costs are welcome. Booked tours cost from €50 per group of up to 12 people (cash on site).

Accessibility

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

Accessible entrance; the floors are reachable by elevator; please speak to the staff at the entrance. Tours for people with visual or hearing impairments as well as in plain or easy language available on request.

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

By car via the A96: from the direction of Munich exit Windach, from the direction of Lindau exit Schöffelding, then follow the signs via Eresing to St. Ottilien. Taxi from Geltendorf station possible with advance registration.

Amenities & dining

A few steps away: Klostergasthof St. Ottilien with beer garden (May to September in good weather), Klostercafé with cake (Sat, Sun, and public holidays 12:00–17:00, closed in winter), and Klosterladen (monastery shop) with small snacks.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit