Stadtmuseum Altes Rathaus

About the museum

The Old Town Hall of Pirmasens stands in the pedestrian zone on Unterer Schloßplatz. The foundation stone was laid on September 17, 1771, by the master mason Rochus Pfeiffer, who came from Tyrol, and Jakob Schieffer. During the Second World War the building was almost completely destroyed; it was rebuilt in 1963, for the city's 200th anniversary. Since then it has served as a city museum, looked after by the city archive (Stadtarchiv).

The permanent exhibition "Wald, Schloss, Schuh" was created for the city's 250th anniversary in 2013 and was first shown in the Forum Alte Post before moving into the Old Town Hall. Across two floors it traces the story from prehistory and early history through the Landgraviate era to the period after the French Revolution and the modern age. Portraits of Landgrave Ludwig IX and Landgravine Caroline, a diorama of the former palace and a replica of the drill hall (Exerzierhalle) are among the exhibits; at hands-on stations, children can search for fossils or grind flour as people did in the Celtic period.

A separate cabinet is dedicated to the paper-cutting artist Elisabeth Emmler, born in Pirmasens in 1921. Around 50 of her best works from her estate, which she bequeathed to her home town, are permanently on display there. Special exhibitions are also shown at regular intervals.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Wald, Schloss, Schuh" on city history across two floors
• Paper-cutting cabinet with around 50 works by Elisabeth Emmler
• Portraits of Landgrave Ludwig IX and Landgravine Caroline
• Diorama of the former Landgrave's palace
• Hands-on stations on fossils and the Celtic period
• Building from 1771, rebuilt in 1963 after the Second World War

Permanent exhibitions

• Wald, Schloss, Schuh – die Geschichte der Siebenhügelstadt – City history of Pirmasens from prehistory through the Landgraviate era to the present, across two floors, with hands-on stations for children.
• Scherenschnittkabinett Elisabeth Emmler – Around 50 paper cuttings by the Pirmasens-born artist Elisabeth Emmler from her estate.

Founded

1963

Operated by

Stadt Pirmasens (Stadtarchiv)

Admission & discounts

Admission covers all exhibitions in the Old Town Hall, including special exhibitions. Holders of the Pfalzcard enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• 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: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum has no barrier-free access.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Workshops for school classes and primary school pupils on request (e.g., "Ledertiere basteln" and "Zeitreisen"); in the permanent exhibition, hands-on stations invite children to search for fossils and grind flour.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the pedestrian zone on Unterer Schloßplatz.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop (Tue–Sun 14:00–17:00) with facsimiles from the Emmler collection, souvenirs from Pirmasens and local history literature.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit