Museum Bayerisches Vogtland
Town and regional museum in the historic hospital of Hof with natural history, Biedermeier rooms, and a section on flight and expulsion.
About the museum
The museum's beginnings go back to 1896, when a secondary school professor donated a mineral collection, which an association expanded with contributions from other collectors. In 1913 the city of Hof took over the holdings and first displayed them in the old train station, and from 1927 in the fire station building. In 1983 the museum moved into the historic hospital on the Sigmundsgraben, whose origins lie in the 13th century and which is one of the oldest surviving building complexes in the city.
On several floors, the permanent exhibition tells the history of Hof and the Bavarian Vogtland from archaeological finds through the early modern period to the present. Two large city models illustrate the city's development, printing presses, looms, and yarn machines represent the history of technology and textiles, and products of copper, pewter, and porcelain represent regional crafts. Living rooms from the Biedermeier and Gründerzeit periods and a reconstructed classroom show the everyday life of earlier generations.
Since 2012, a separate section has been devoted to Hof's role as a point of arrival and new home for thousands of refugees and expellees after the Second World War. The extensive natural history section presents animals and plants of the region; it was revised in 2026 and expanded with hands-on stations for children. Works by the painter Johann Christian Reinhart from the municipal art collection are shown in the Johann-Christian-Reinhart-Cabinett.
Highlights
- Two large historic city models of Hof
- Section "Refugees and Expellees in Hof"
- Natural history section with forest and pond dioramas and new hands-on stations
- Living rooms from the Biedermeier and Gründerzeit periods
- Historic classroom
- Printing presses, looms, and yarn machines on the history of textiles and technology
Permanent exhibitions
- Stadt- und Regionalgeschichte – Archaeological finds, city models, crafts and the textile industry, as well as living rooms from the Biedermeier and Gründerzeit periods tell the story of Hof and the Vogtland.
- Flüchtlinge und Vertriebene in Hof – Original pieces, photos, and personal stories show how Hof took in thousands of refugees after 1945.
- Naturkunde – Birds, forest and meadow animals, insects, and dioramas present the nature of the region, with new hands-on stations for children since 2026.
- Founded
- 1983
- Operated by
- Stadt Hof
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Trainees, students, recipients of social assistance, people with severe disabilities |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and teenagers under 18 have free admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3companion free · Companions free, if the companion is indispensable for the museum visit. |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personAdults in groups of 10 or more; group leaders and drivers free. |
| Annual pass | €20 |
Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month
Free admission also applies to holders of the Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card), members of the Deutscher Museumsbund (German Museums Association) and the KulturKreis Hof e.V., as well as teachers and chaperones with their groups. Tours cost a flat rate of €50 in addition to admission; for school classes and groups from public educational institutions, admission is included.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- 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
Accessible without barriers for people with walking impairments: wheelchair ramps, elevators, stair lift, and accessible restroom. Portable folding stools can be borrowed free of charge.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
On one Saturday a month at 11:00, the program "Entdecker unterwegs" (Explorers on the Go) takes place for children aged 5 or 6 and up on changing themes (€5); during the Easter and summer holidays there are holiday programs (€3); registration requested. Children's birthday parties cost a flat rate of €60. In the natural history section, hands-on stations invite discovery.
Getting there & parking
A bus stop is located near the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours by museum staff or external museum guides last about 1 to 1.5 hours (flat rate €50 plus admission). Museum education programs for schools of all types, groups, and class reunions by arrangement. |
