Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz

About the museum

The museum's roots lie in the Gebirgsverein zu Kamenz (mountain association), founded in 1887, which built up natural history collections and from 1895 displayed them in a clubroom in the Hutberghotel. In 1931 a museum of city history was added. After the Second World War the holdings first moved to the town hall, and in 1957 the city made the Ponickauhaus, with its yellow Baroque façade, available as a museum building.

The first permanent exhibition opened there in 1961, and in 1968 the house was given the name Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz. At the end of the 1970s the side wing was reconstructed and the exhibition space expanded. In 1991 responsibility passed to the district; today the museum is an institution of the Bautzen district.

In 2000 the collections and research building Sammelsurium opened, and by 2002 the Ponickauhaus had been converted into the Elementarium, in which the permanent exhibition is organized in interactive themed worlds. Since 2004 a glass bridge has connected the building with the renovated Malzhaus, where the city of Kamenz presents its city history.

The collections comprise some 30,000 objects from the geology, zoology, botany, archaeology, and cultural history of the western Lusatia region.

Highlights

• Earthquake simulator in the themed world "Formen"
• Interactive themed worlds on stones, landscape, forest, and people
• Archaeological finds from Lusatia
• Glass bridge to the city history in the Malzhaus
• Audio guide in four languages
• Research collections in the Sammelsurium

Permanent exhibitions

• Themenwelten Steine und Formen – Rocks and forces that shaped the Lusatian landscape, with an earthquake simulator and many hands-on stations.
• Themenwelten Menschen, Nutzen und Wald – Archaeological traces of early cultures in Lusatia, the human influence on nature, and the history of the forest.
• Themenwelt Kamenz – Stadtgeschichte im Malzhaus – A glass bridge leads to the Malzhaus, where the history of the city of Kamenz is told.

Founded

1957

Operated by

Landkreis Bautzen

Visitors per year

approx. 27,202 (2025)

Admission & discounts

The ticket is valid for the permanent exhibition, the special exhibitions in the Elementarium, and the city history exhibition in the Malzhaus. Free for members of ICOM, the Museumsbund, and the friends' association.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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

Wide doors and maneuvering space, elevator to all exhibition floors except the Dachstübchen (attic room), many places to sit; escort service for wheelchair users. Tours for people with visual or hearing impairments and with cognitive impairments.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthday parties for ages 5 to 12 with up to 10 guests (€50, 1–2 hours, register early), vacation workshops, nursing area; strollers are allowed in the exhibition.

Getting there & parking

The Elementarium is located in the city center near the market square in the Ponickauhaus with its yellow Baroque façade.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café in the Ponickauhaus with small meals, also child-friendly; museum shop, library, and museum garden.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit