Museum der Stadt Lünen
Town museum in the renovated Villa Urbahn next to the Lünen town hall – town and cultural history, with a modern extension since July 2025.
About the museum
The Museum der Stadt Lünen was established in the mid-1960s and celebrated its 60th birthday in 2025/26. For decades it was housed in an outbuilding of Schloss Schwansbell, a former stable and barn building. There it showed local history holdings, including products of the regional iron foundry and pottery, home furnishings from the period between about 1840 and 1930, toys, and agricultural equipment.
After moving out of Schwansbell in 2023, about 20 months of construction and preparation followed. The new home became the listed Villa Urbahn from the 1920s in the middle of the town center, directly next to the town hall. The restored historic building received a single-story extension of glass and dark stone on the east side; an elevator connects the levels, so that all floors are accessible without barriers. On the first floor of the historic building are exhibition rooms and at the same time a wedding venue of the registry office, on the upper floor administration and museum education, and in the new building areas for changing exhibitions as well as presentation and storage rooms.
On July 1, 2025, the museum opened with a completely redesigned permanent exhibition on town and cultural history. Instead of being organized by collection type, it is structured by themes such as work, treasures, and family history, and relies on storytelling objects and interactive elements. In the "Lünen-Fenster" (Lünen Window), clubs, initiatives, and school classes take turns creating their own contributions. A museum garden, a terrace facing the park, and a friends' circle founded in 2023 complement the offering.
Highlights
- Listed Villa Urbahn from the 1920s with a modern glass extension
- Newly designed permanent exhibition on Lünen's town and cultural history
- Themed areas on work, treasures, and family history
- "Lünen-Fenster" with changing contributions from clubs and school classes
- Museum garden with terrace facing the park
Permanent exhibitions
- Dauerausstellung zur Stadt- und Kulturgeschichte – In the historic building of the Villa Urbahn, themed areas on work, treasures, and family history tell the story of Lünen – accessible, easy to understand, and with interactive stations.
- Lünen-Fenster – Display case in which Lünen clubs, initiatives, and school classes take turns showing their own themes, memories, and projects.
- Founded
- 1966
- Operated by
- Stadt Lünen
- Director
- Dr. Katja Stromberg
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Children aged 6 to 17, pupils, trainees, people aged 65 and older or with a pensioner ID, and recipients of benefits under SGB II, assistance for living expenses under SGB XII, housing benefit, or benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act |
| Children & teens | €3Children aged 6 to 17 pay the reduced admission. Birthday children have free admission on their birthday. |
| Seniors | €3From age 65 or with a pensioner ID. |
| Students & apprentices | –Pupils and trainees pay the reduced admission. |
| Groups (11+ people) | €3 per personFor group tours of 11 or more people, €3 admission per person. Daycare groups and school classes pay no admission if an education program is booked. |
| Families | –Family tickets are available. |
Annual passes in various versions, also for families and reduced. Birthday children have free admission on their birthday.
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: no information
- Audio description: no information
Accessible entry to all floors via the new building; an elevator connects the historic and new buildings. The main entrance is at the new building.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Interactive, easy-to-understand exhibition offerings; in the summer holidays workshops and discovery tours for children and teenagers. Education programs are available for daycare centers and school classes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bäckerstraße
Bus to the stop Bäckerstraße, directly at the museum.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No parking lot of its own at the museum; public parking lots and parking garages in the surrounding town center.
The museum is located directly next to the town hall; the visitor entrance is at the new building and can be reached from the square behind the town hall.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Museum garden with terrace facing the park and Rathausplatz.
Events & venue rental
- Weddings / ceremonies
On the first floor of the Villa Urbahn there is a wedding venue of the registry office of the town of Lünen.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours at your preferred time through the permanent and/or special exhibition, each with information on the architecture: 60 minutes €60, 90 minutes €75 (max. 15 people), plus admission. Booking via the reservation form, by phone, or by email. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8:00–14:00 the building is reserved exclusively for registered groups. |
