Museum Schöne Stiege

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum belongs to the Altertumsverein (antiquities association) Riedlingen, founded in 1851, which first displayed a collection publicly in 1858. Today it is housed in a 1556 Ackerbürgerhaus; the well-preserved building and the namesake Schöne Stiege (beautiful staircase) are themselves part of the exhibit.

The house was redesigned under the direction of historian Benigna Schönhagen and inaugurated in October 2002. As early as 2004, the Tübingen Regional Council (Regierungspräsidium Tübingen) honored it as an exemplary local history museum.

The permanent exhibition spans four floors and covers town history, the beginnings of the Riedlinger Zeitung newspaper in 1714, church history, the Revolution of 1848, archaeology, and industry and trades. The collection of reverse glass paintings (Hinterglasbilder) is well known. The museum complex also includes the Städtische Galerie (municipal gallery) in the former Spital zum Heiligen Geist (Hospital of the Holy Spirit), about 100 meters away, with sculptures and a fortepiano by Conrad Graf, a piano maker born in Riedlingen.

Highlights

• 1556 Ackerbürgerhaus with the Schöne Stiege staircase
• One of the largest collections of reverse glass paintings in the region
• History of the Riedlinger Zeitung newspaper since 1714
• Municipal gallery with a fortepiano by Conrad Graf
• Baroque funeral bier

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung im Museum – Town history, newspaper history, church history, the Revolution of 1848, archaeology, industry and trades, and an extensive collection of reverse glass paintings.
• Dauerausstellung in der Städtischen Galerie – Sculptures from five centuries, a Baroque funeral bier, and the 1824 fortepiano by Conrad Graf in the hospital chapel.

Founded

1858

Operated by

Altertumsverein Riedlingen 1851 e.V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Open Monument Day (2026: September 13)

Free admission for members of the antiquities association and for all school classes. The municipal gallery in the Spital zum Heiligen Geist is free of charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

Elevator available; the exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Museum: Rösslegasse 1; Städtische Galerie: Wochenmarkt 3.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit