Museum der Stadt Alzey

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to 1906, when the Altertumsverein für Alzey und Umgebung (Antiquarian Society for Alzey and Surroundings) was founded, which wanted to build up and exhibit its own collection from the outset. After the discovery of the Roman fort in 1902, the Roman period was initially the focus. Particularly influential were the excavations by Friedrich Behn in 1929 and 1931, in which numerous Roman stone monuments were recovered from the foundations of the fort.

From 1936 Georg Durst directed the museum on a voluntary basis for more than a quarter of a century and greatly expanded the prehistoric and early historic collection through his own excavations. In 1983 the city of Alzey took over responsibility: the museum moved into the building of the old municipal hospital on Antoniterstraße and for the first time had a full-time director. Since then, folklore as well as social and economic history have been added as areas of focus.

The permanent exhibition follows the floors of the building: the ground floor covers city and regional history with crafts, tile art, Jewish life and the legendary figure Volker von Alzey; the first floor covers the prehistory and early history of inner Rheinhessen; and under the roof there is geology and fossils of the former sea in the Mainz Basin. Since March 2023 a sculptural extension, the new Stone Hall, has presented the Roman votive stones, altars and remains of Jupiter columns that had previously been housed provisionally in various places. The museum also includes the city archive and a regional history library.

Highlights

• Nymph altar of AD 223 as the oldest evidence of Alzey's inhabitants
• New Stone Hall (2023) with Roman altars and stones of the gods
• Skeleton of the fossil sea cow “Elsa”
• Roman-era beer mash from the 4th century
• Multimedia station on Volker von Alzey and the Nibelungenlied

Permanent exhibitions

• Stadt- und Regionalgeschichte – The development of Alzey from the Middle Ages to the 20th century with crafts, tile art, Jewish history, the vine breeder Georg Scheu and Volker von Alzey.
• Vor- und Frühgeschichte – Finds from inner Rheinhessen from the Neolithic to the Franks, complemented by models of a Hallstatt-period settlement and the Roman fort.
• Geologie und Paläontologie – Fossils from the subtropical sea that reached as far as Alzey about 30 million years ago – from shark teeth to the sea cow “Elsa”.

Founded

1906

Operated by

Stadt Alzey

Director

Prof. Dr. Tim Kerig

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free. Educational programmes for school classes, daycare centres and youth groups are free of charge; a contribution towards materials may be charged.

Accessibility

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

Certified under “Reisen für Alle” (“Accessibility Checked”); accessible entrance, accessible exhibitions and guidance system. The website offers texts in Easy Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Holiday projects during school holidays, once a month the children's club KIMA for schoolchildren, rallies as well as quiz and search games through the museum. Replicas and models invite visitors to touch them. Children's birthday parties for 6- to 12-year-olds with a tour and a craft session.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the middle of the city at the junction of Hospitalstraße and the pedestrian zone.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit