Museum Neues Schloss Rauenstein

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Hans Siegmund von Schaumberg had the Neues Schloss (New Palace) built between 1687 and 1690 as a two-story building with an F-shaped floor plan; a third story was added in 1714. After it passed to the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen, the building found an entirely new use from 1783: the Rauenstein porcelain factory, founded that year, used it as a production site and acquired it shortly afterward.

After the factory went bankrupt around 1930, the municipality of Rauenstein bought the palace in 1934 and set up its administration there. Plans for a museum had existed since the early 20th century, but they were realized only after the merger of municipalities in the 1990s: in 1999 a porcelain cabinet on the history of the manufactory opened.

From the mid-1990s, the building was gradually restored at a cost of several million euros. After conversion work, the museum reopened in 2016; since then, in addition to Rauenstein porcelain, it has also shown a company exhibition of the doll maker Schildkröt. The building belongs to the municipality of Frankenblick and is looked after by the Thüringisch-Fränkischer Geschichtsverein (Thuringian-Franconian history society); civil wedding ceremonies are also held in the palace.

Highlights

• Porcelain from the Rauenstein manufactory, founded in 1783
• Straw flower, onion pattern and Delft decorations as well as the Rauenstein bird motif
• Delft Room
• Schildkröt dolls and plush toys from more than a hundred years of company history
• Free audio guide via QR code

Permanent exhibitions

• Rauensteiner Porzellan – Tableware, figurines and doll heads from the Rauenstein porcelain factory with its characteristic decorations, presented in the historic palace rooms.
• Schildkröt-Puppen – Play and collector dolls as well as plush toys from more than a century of company history of the manufacturer Schildkröt.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Thüringisch-Fränkischer Geschichtsverein e. V. (Eigentümer: Gemeinde Frankenblick)

Admission & discounts

Cash only.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Audio guide by children for children, developed by two schools in the Sonneberg district. Tours for all age groups. Free admission for children until their 5th birthday, family ticket.

Getting there & parking

By car from the north via the A73 (exit Eisfeld Nord) and the B89 toward Sonneberg via Schalkau and Grümpen, at the Grümpner Kreuzung toward Rauenstein; from the south via the Rödental exit.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi for the audio guide.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 50 guests.

Civil wedding ceremonies in the wedding room since 2017; Wappensaal (Hall of Arms) for events of up to 50 people; education room with projector, whiteboard and flip chart.

Plan your visit