Museum Kirche zum Heiligen Kreuz
Museum in the Zittau burial church, with the Great Lenten Veil from 1472 displayed in the largest museum showcase in the world.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Church of the Holy Cross is a burial church in Zittau more than 600 years old, with early baroque furnishings, numerous burial sites and epitaphs, and a museum cemetery. It bears witness to the civic funerary culture of the town.
Since 1999, the Great Zittau Lenten Veil has been permanently on display here. The cloth was made in 1472, is 8.20 m high and 6.80 m wide, and shows biblical history in 90 pictures, from the Creation to the Last Judgment. It belongs to the rare "Feldertyp" (field type), of which only 18 examples survive worldwide, and in Germany only this one. Until 1672, it covered the altar area of St. John's Church every year during Lent.
After its rediscovery in 1840, damage at the end of World War II and a pro bono restoration by the Abegg Foundation in Switzerland, it is now shown in a custom-built showcase, in which it looks as it did before, as an altar covering. The church is part of the Städtische Museen Zittau (Municipal Museums of Zittau); the Small Lenten Veil is on view in the Franciscan monastery.
Highlights
- Great Zittau Lenten Veil from 1472 with 90 pictures
- Largest museum showcase in the world (Guinness Book)
- Early baroque furnishings of the burial church
- Epitaphs, burial sites and museum cemetery
Permanent exhibitions
- Großes Zittauer Fastentuch von 1472 – The 8.20 m high cloth with 90 biblical pictures is shown in the world's largest museum showcase, in its original function as an altar covering.
- Begräbniskirche mit Epitaphien – Early baroque church furnishings with numerous burial sites and epitaphs, as evidence of civic funerary culture.
- Kreuzfriedhof – The museum cemetery around the church is part of the visit.
- Operated by
- Städtische Museen Zittau
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Trainees, students, severely disabled persons, recipients of social benefits, holders of an Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card) and federal volunteers |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Children and young people under 16 enter free. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4Reduced admission for severely disabled persons. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Reduced admission for students and trainees. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per personFrom 10 people, per person; reduced €3. |
| Combined ticket for the Great and Small Lenten Veils, the Franciscan monastery and the monastery church | €10reduced €6; group of 10 or more €8 or €5 respectively |
| Lecture | €4reduced €3 |
| Guided tour for school classes, kindergartens and after-school care (per child) | €1 |
| Annual pass (adults) | €30reduced €15; valid for one year from redemption |
The single ticket covers the Great Lenten Veil, the cross cemetery and the epitaphs. Members of the Zittau History and Museum Association and refugees from Ukraine enter free upon showing proof.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
The Städtische Museen Zittau offer an educational program for all age groups, including children's birthday parties and curriculum-based programs for school classes (registration at 03583 55479301, in good time, ideally 4 weeks ahead).
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours of the Great Lenten Veil cost a flat €20 for up to 15 people (each additional person €2); a guided tour of the museum and epitaph treasury costs €40 for up to 20 people. Registration at least 14 days in advance, or 4 weeks outside opening hours. Personal guided tours in German are available at any time. The audio guide (German, English, Czech, Polish, French) is currently not available; instead, the audio file plays through loudspeakers. |
