Museum Schloss Herzberg

About the museum

Welf Castle in Herzberg took its present form in the 16th century. After a fire in 1510 destroyed the earlier building, a four-winged Renaissance half-timbered structure was built. In the 18th century the complex was regarded as the cradle of the Hanoverian and English royal houses. Later the castle was used, among other things, as a hunting lodge, administrative seat and forestry office.

Since 1985 the museum of the town of Herzberg am Harz has been housed in the Stammhaus wing. It is divided into three sections: the castle and dynastic history of the Welfs, the economic and social history of the town, and the everyday life of its residents. Special highlights include pieces from the Herzberg rifle manufactory, the 19th-century organ building of the Engelhardt family, forestry and mining history, the Scharzfeld coin hoard, and a facsimile of the Gospel Book of Henry the Lion from 1185.

Portraits of the Welfs hang in the Rittersaal (knights' hall), which also serves as a cultural center for concerts and readings. A permanent exhibition is devoted to the constructed language Esperanto, with which Herzberg has made a name for itself as an "Esperanto-Stadt" (Esperanto city). Since 2004 the Förderverein Schloss Herzberg (friends' association) has supported the museum.

Highlights

• Welf exhibition and gallery of princes in the knights' hall
• Herzberg rifle manufactory
• Engelhardt organ and 19th-century organ building
• Facsimile of the Gospel Book of Henry the Lion
• Permanent Esperanto exhibition
• Forestry and mining history of the southern Harz

Permanent exhibitions

• Welfenausstellung und Schlossgeschichte – History of the Welfs and their connection to the English royal house, portraits in the knights' hall, and the later use of the castle.
• Stadt-, Wirtschafts- und Alltagsgeschichte – Rifle manufactory, the Engelhardt family's organ building, and forestry and mining history of the southern Harz.
• Esperanto-Ausstellung – Permanent exhibition on the constructed language Esperanto and on Herzberg's role as an Esperanto city.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Stadt Herzberg am Harz

Admission & discounts

At the moment only cash payment is possible at the museum.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• 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 castle is not fully wheelchair-accessible. From the rail stop, instead of the castle stairs, a road route without stairs (about 1,150 meters, with gradients and uneven surfaces) leads to the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Activity stations for children in the museum. For the Ferienpass holiday program, a scavenger hunt was recently held at the castle.

Getting there & parking

From the rail stop it is about 200 meters on foot up the castle stairs (alternatively about 1,150 meters by road without stairs). By car, follow the B 27, B 241 and B 243.

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