Museum Goldener Steig

About the museum

The museum goes back to the Heimat- und Museumsverein Waldkirchen (local heritage and museum association), founded in 1980, which aimed from the start for its own city museum. After about seven years of preparation, it opened in 1987 in a tower of the medieval town wall. The town of Waldkirchen is the operator.

The house was expanded over the decades: in 1988 figures of two pack carriers (Säumer) moved into the basement, in 1997 the entrance area was redesigned, and in 2006/2007 a general renovation followed. Between 2019 and 2022 the museum was digitally upgraded as part of a cross-border Interreg project, including a multimedia guide and digital stations.

Thematically, the house combines local history with a specialist topic: the Waldkirchen section tells of everyday life in the old market, of fires and of the citizenry, while the second part documents the Goldener Steig, the medieval pack-trade route for salt between Bavaria and Bohemia.

Highlights

• Defensive tower of the medieval town wall across three floors
• Path of salt: the Goldener Steig between Bavaria and Bohemia
• Pack carriers' room in the basement
• Multimedia guide with a tour of the museum and the market square
• Digital children's tour with Salina, the pack carrier's daughter

Permanent exhibitions

• Goldener Steig – The path of salt from the Alps via Passau through the forest to Bohemia, with the daily life of the pack carriers and the rule of the Passau bishop.
• Ortsgeschichte Waldkirchen – Life in the old market of Waldkirchen: market fires, a historical town model, and memories of citizens and craftsmen.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Stadt Waldkirchen (mit dem Heimat- und Museumsverein Waldkirchen)

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The museum is not barrier-free: the exhibition extends across three floors in the historic tower, and the rooms are small. The entrance can be reached by car, but there is no parking directly in front of it.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The digital children's tour with Salina, the pack carrier's daughter, takes children aged 8 and up through the museum and town by smartphone; there are also interactive discovery stations.

Getting there & parking

Waldkirchen is about 30 minutes by car from Passau; the museum is near the market square, directly on the town wall.

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