Naturhistorisches Museum Schloss Bertholdsburg

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Bertholdsburg Castle first served as a museum in 1934, when the teacher Paul Georgi displayed pieces from Hermann Franke's geological estate in one of the castle's rooms. This so-called Franke Room is regarded as the nucleus of today's museum. In the 1950s a local history museum with exhibitions on the history of the town and region was added; from 1972 to 1990 part of the Sonneberg Toy Museum was also housed here.

From 1984 onward, Thuringia's natural history moved to center stage, and the institution became the Natural History Museum. Since 1988 it has looked after the natural history collections of the museums of southern Thuringia, almost 100,000 objects ranging from fossils and minerals to animal and plant specimens. The district of Hildburghausen has been its operator since 1994; on its 90th anniversary in 2024, the spelling "NaturHistorisches Museum" was adopted to underline its role as a multidisciplinary museum.

The Bertholdsburg itself was built from 1226 as a castle of the Counts of Henneberg and was expanded in the 16th century into a four-winged Renaissance palace. Since 1994 it has belonged to the Stiftung Thüringer Schlösser und Gärten, which has been carrying out extensive renovations since 2024. The permanent exhibition on regional history is being redesigned and is due to reopen in stages from 2027; the previously inaccessible south wing will also be opened up in the process.

Highlights

• Life-size skeleton reconstructions of the dinosaurs Liliensternus and Plateosaurus
• Around 25 landscape dioramas with some 400 models of prehistoric animals and plants
• Mineral exhibition with a ducal gemstone cabinet and the Bleßberg Cave
• Henneberg coin hoard with silver coins from the 13th to 16th centuries
• Hercules Hall with wall paintings from around 1600
• Observation tower with panoramic views over the Thuringian Forest (128 steps)

Permanent exhibitions

• Auf den Spuren unserer Umwelt – 300 Millionen Jahre Thüringen – A journey through Thuringia's landscapes across geological history on 800 m² (8,600 sq ft), with dioramas, around 1,000 fossils, dinosaur skeletons and aquariums.
• Minerale – Faszination in Form und Farbe – Minerals and rocks of Thuringia, mining minerals and a gemstone cabinet with an 18th-century ducal collection.
• Burg-, Stadt- und Regionalgeschichte – History of the Bertholdsburg, the Counts of Henneberg and the town of Schleusingen, including crafts, printing and coin minting; currently being redesigned.

Founded

1934

Operated by

Landkreis Hildburghausen

Director

Dr. Frank Scholze

Admission & discounts

Surcharges may apply for individual special exhibitions. Introductory talk for groups €10, themed guided tour €25, complete guided tour €75.

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

No accessibility information has been published; some of the rooms and corridors in the historic castle are very narrow.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthday parties on various themes and regular holiday programs. Free children's museum guide "Mika & Luki unterwegs in Südthüringen" and activity booklets.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with its own publications and exhibition guides. Live fish and freshwater crayfish in aquariums.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 300 guests.

Rentals through the Stiftung Thüringer Schlösser und Gärten (castle administration): the Fürstensaal (Princes' Hall) seats up to 80 for concerts, readings and receptions; the castle courtyard holds around 300 for concerts, theater and festivities. Weddings in the Fürstensaal are arranged through the Schleusingen registry office.

Plan your visit