Museum Schloss Fürstenberg

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Since the Middle Ages a castle had stood on a rocky spur above the Weser; destroyed in the 16th century, it was rebuilt around 1600 under Duke Heinrich Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel as a hunting lodge in the Weser Renaissance style. In 1747 Duke Carl I founded a porcelain manufactory here, which from about 1750 produced in the palace itself – until it moved to modern factory buildings in 1972.

The museum began in 1957 as a small display based on a private collection. After expansions in 1978 and 1991, it moved into the historic palace rooms. From 2015 to 2017 the complex was renovated and redesigned for around five million euros; in March 2017 the museum reopened with an entirely new permanent exhibition.

With about 20,000 objects, the museum holds the world’s largest collection of Fürstenberg porcelain from the Rococo to the present, supplemented by the Reichmann Collection on permanent loan. Theme rooms are devoted to the founding, the hot beverages coffee, tea, and chocolate, decoration, dining culture, and design. At the end of the tour, porcelain artisans in the visitor workshop demonstrate how porcelain is shaped and painted. The museum holds the Lower Saxony museum quality seal.

Highlights

• World’s largest collection of Fürstenberg porcelain (around 20,000 objects)
• Porcelain group “Kaffeegesellschaft” (Coffee Party) by Desoches (around 1770)
• Media installation “Blackbox” on decoration techniques
• Visitor workshop with demonstrations by porcelain artisans
• Weser Renaissance palace with views of the Weser valley
• Manufactory outlet store within the palace complex

Permanent exhibitions

• Eine Reise durch die Welt von FÜRSTENBERG – Opened in 2017, the permanent exhibition leads through theme rooms on the manufactory’s founding, hot beverages, decoration, dining culture, and design, and ends in the visitor workshop.

Founded

1957

Operated by

Kulturgut Fürstenberg gGmbH

Director

Christian Lechelt

Admission & discounts

Tickets are valid for one entry on the day of purchase (re-entry after having the ticket signed at the ticket desk). Payment in cash, by debit card (EC), or credit card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The palace courtyard, permanent exhibition, visitor workshop, and outlet store are accessible; the special exhibition rooms cannot be reached step-free due to the historic building fabric.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's rally with the porcelain pug (approx. 45 min., €2), hands-on stations in the museum and plate painting in the visitor workshop. Child-friendly tour (60 min.) for groups, family program during the Easter, summer and fall holidays (approx. 2 hrs.) and children's birthday parties with porcelain painting and casting. Main exhibition and visitor workshop accessible with strollers.

Getting there & parking

Landing stage for Weser boats and canoes about 80 m below the palace, access signposted.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

The Bistro CARL in the palace is currently closed; a reopening is planned. Manufactory outlet store in the palace complex (Tue–Sun and public holidays 10:00–18:00). Lockers with a €2 deposit.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies in the FÜRSTENBERG Kabinett with its 16th-century sandstone fireplace (booking through the Holzminden registry office); champagne reception and other extras can be added.

Plan your visit