Museum Bautzen

Current exhibitions

About the museum

At the suggestion of the bookseller Oskar Roesger, Bautzen opened an “Alterthumsmuseum” (museum of antiquities) in 1869, initially in a single room of the former Bürgerschule. Roesger contributed his collection of archaeological finds, books, coins, city views and household objects; donations and bequests from Bautzen citizens quickly expanded the holdings and established the collecting areas that still apply today.

With major support from the printing entrepreneur Carl Ernst Otto Weigang, a dedicated museum building was erected on the Kornmarkt; it opened in 1912 as the “Provinzialmuseum der sächsischen Oberlausitz” (Provincial Museum of Saxon Upper Lusatia) and also provided space for natural science and archaeological societies. An extension for temporary exhibitions followed in 1930/31. After war damage, the building and its collections were restored by the 1950s.

From 1992, the listed building was gradually renovated, including its interior from 2004 to 2009. Since reopening on May 8, 2009, the museum has presented the themes of region, city and art across three floors and around 2,400 square meters. The collection comprises some 400,000 objects, including the most important archaeological collection in the region, folk culture holdings, evidence of more than a thousand years of city history and around 17,000 works of art from the late Gothic period to the present. The Art Nouveau gallery with the Giorgio Silzer collection was added in 2014.

Highlights

• Three late Gothic altar ensembles in the church room
• Paintings by artists including Lucas Cranach the Elder, Carl Gustav Carus, Max Liebermann and Otto Dix
• Expressionist works by Carl Lohse
• Extensive archaeological finds from Upper Lusatia
• Art Nouveau gallery with the Giorgio Silzer collection
• Over 1,100 historical views of Bautzen in the collection

Permanent exhibitions

• Region – Stadt – Kunst – Three thematic levels lead from natural history, prehistory and early history and the village culture of Upper Lusatia through Bautzen's city history to art from the Renaissance to the present.
• Schauraum Jugendstil – Around 160 objects in glass, pewter, silver and ceramics from the collection of the Berlin violinist Giorgio Silzer trace the development of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Founded

1869

Operated by

Stadt Bautzen

Director

Jasmin Kaiser

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for school classes, holders of a social or family pass and members of ICOM, the Deutscher Museumsbund and Sächsischer Museumsbund, Pro Museo e. V. and the Naturforschende Gesellschaft der Oberlausitz. Public guided tours are included in admission.

Accessibility

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

Main entrance with 2 steps; ring the bell to the right of the entrance and staff will put a ramp in place. Platform lifts to the foyer and the church room, elevator to all floors. Some rooms (including parts of the “Region” level and the Art Nouveau and art rooms on the third floor) can only be reached via steps. Accessible restroom with baby changing table in the basement; loan wheelchair at the ticket desk. Website with information in Easy German (Leichte Sprache) and German Sign Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Museum trail for children with 13 stations across all three levels: boxes with puzzles, games, and hands-on tasks (weaving frame, painting puzzle), also for children who cannot read yet. Children's birthday parties with four programs and vacation activities by registration. Baby changing table in the accessible restroom in the basement (elevator).

Getting there & parking

By car via the A4, exit Bautzen West, toward the city center.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

Coat check on the first floor.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit