Museum der Stadt Bad Hersfeld

About the museum

The Museum der Stadt Bad Hersfeld is housed in the surviving monastery building of the former Benedictine abbey within the abbey precinct (Stiftsbezirk). The abbey goes back to the monk Lullus, who founded it in the 8th century; the ruin of its church is considered the largest Romanesque church building north of the Alps. Only the east wing of the monastery survives, and the city museum uses it to present the themes of the imperial abbey, town history, and rural everyday life across three floors.

On display are, among other things, excavation finds, silver coins, monastery seals, a 14th-century knight's helmet as a trophy of victory, models of buildings and of the town, a 16th-century marksmen's guild chain, club banners, and a Biedermeier room. Wall and ceiling paintings from the early 11th century have been preserved in the Mönchskapelle (monks' chapel).

The folk culture collection is in the Fruchtmagazin, a 19th-century annex. There, a complete blaudruck (blue-print) workshop has been set up with almost 1,000 printing blocks, along with a wooden horse-gin mechanism (Göpelwerk), a mail coach, and a shepherd's wagon. A separate exhibition is devoted to the Bad Hersfeld Festival since 1951. The ground floor and the top floor (Galerie im Stift) are used for changing exhibitions.

Highlights

• History of the imperial abbey and the town across three floors
• Early 11th-century wall paintings in the Mönchskapelle (monks' chapel)
• Complete blaudruck workshop with almost 1,000 printing blocks
• 14th-century knight's helmet and 16th-century marksmen's guild chain
• Exhibition "Die große Faszination – Bad Hersfelder Festspiele seit 1951"

Permanent exhibitions

• Reichsabtei, Stadtgeschichte und ländliche Alltagskultur – Finds, seals, coins, town models, and a Biedermeier room across three floors; in the monks' chapel, paintings from the early 11th century.
• Volkskundliche Sammlung im Fruchtmagazin – Complete blaudruck workshop with almost 1,000 printing blocks, horse-gin mechanism, mail coach, and shepherd's wagon.
• Die große Faszination – Bad Hersfelder Festspiele seit 1951 – The exhibition shows theater photos, props, costumes, and posters, as well as an animated reconstruction of the abbey ruin.

Operated by

Kreisstadt Bad Hersfeld

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; a donation box is provided.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

For precise information on accessibility (wheelchair use, mobility impairments), please ask the museum.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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