One of the oldest musical instrument museums in the world: around 1,600 instruments from 350 years of instrument making in the Vogtland and from every continent.
May 9, 2026 – February 21, 2027
Around 65 instruments tell the story of the Martin fanfare trumpet, from horns and signal bugles to the shawm bands of the 20th century, complemented by audio and film recordings.
Markneukirchen in the upper Vogtland has been a center of instrument making since the 17th century: in 1677 violin makers who had migrated from Graslitz in Bohemia founded the first German violin makers' guild here, and in the 19th century instruments from the “Musikwinkel” (Music Corner) were shipped all over the world. Against this background, the town's trade association proposed founding a trade museum in 1883. The driving force was the teacher and organist Paul Otto Apian-Bennewitz, who wanted to build up a teaching collection for young instrument makers – explicitly including instruments from other countries.
The collection grew mainly through donations from local manufacturers and dealers. Closed when war broke out in 1939, it moved in 1942 into the Paulus-Schlössel, a late Baroque townhouse built in 1784 that had survived the town fire of 1840 and is named after its last owner, a string manufacturer.
Today the holdings comprise more than 4,000 musical instruments, along with historic books, manuscripts and sound recordings. The permanent exhibition in the Paulus-Schlössel arranges around 1,600 instruments by type – from string and wind instruments to mechanical and electronic instruments and keyboard instruments – and presents instruments from non-European musical cultures in the east wing.
The museum complex also includes the Gerber-Hans-Haus with the ticket desk, an old trading office, historic workshops and a giant violin and giant tuba; a historic sawmill for tonewoods with town history and special exhibitions; and the World Music Garden, where visitors can try out instruments. The museum is run by the town of Markneukirchen with support from a friends' association that publishes a series of specialist books on German instrument making.
| Adults | €7.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Holders of regional spa cards (Kurkarte) and the Freie Presse Card, people with a severe disability (degree of disability 50 or more) |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Children under 6 free, then €4 up to age 18. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €7Degree of disability 50 or more €7; degree of disability 90 or more, and their companion (if the need is documented), €4 each. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Trainees, university students and Bundesfreiwilligendienst (federal volunteer service) participants €4. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €6.50 per personPer person for groups of 10 or more; tour flat fee €45 for up to 20 people. |
| Families | €202 adults and 3 children aged 6 and up. |
| Gerber-Hans-Haus, town history and special exhibitions only | €3.50reduced €2 |
| Demonstration at the historic sawmill | €6Children/reduced €4; public dates, groups of 10 or more by advance registration |
| Privately booked guided tour for up to 10 people | €60each additional person pays regular admission |
Free admission for, among others, ICOM and Museumsbund members, members of the friends' association, and students of Markneukirchen schools as part of school activities. The open guided tour on Sundays is included in the admission price (€7.50, children aged 6 and up €4). Payment in cash, by debit card or by credit card (except American Express).
The historic buildings have no elevator. Wheelchair-accessible areas are the barn with the giant violin, giant tuba and introductory film, the sawmill's entrance area, the museum courtyard, the first floor of the Paulus-Schlössel (about one fifth of the exhibition) and the World Music Garden; access via the Kirchsteig with a mobile ramp by prior arrangement. The ticket desk can only be reached by steps. Wheelchair-accessible restroom with baby changing table at the Gerber-Hans-Haus parking lot.
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
| Family ticket | €20 · 2 adults and 3 children aged 6 and up. |
In the World Music Garden (April to October), numerous instruments and sound devices invite children and adults to try them out. Baby changing area in the accessible restroom by the parking lot at the Gerber-Hans-Haus. Free admission for children up to age 6.
Busbahnhof Markneukirchen · 5-min walk
Train to Adorf (Vogtl.) or Schöneck, then continue by bus to Markneukirchen bus station, then about a 5-minute walk.
Parking available
Car parking in the courtyard of the Gerber-Hans-Haus; buses park in the Bienengarten directly in front of the museum.
No café; hot drink and snack vending machines at the ticket desk and in the entrance area. Souvenirs and specialist literature at the tourist information office.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | Media stations with audio samples directly on your own smartphone (no app needed; bring your own headphones). Staff will demonstrate instruments on request. A guided tour is strongly recommended for groups; advance registration required. Sawmill only as part of guided tours. |
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