Naturkundemuseum Erfurt

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Naturkundemuseum Erfurt opened on October 29, 1922, in the building “Zum Stockfisch” on Johannesstraße. The founding was driven by a working group of natural history enthusiasts, in existence since 1919, around the teacher and entomologist Otto Rapp. Even the first exhibition showed plants and animals in their ecological context and attracted attention beyond Erfurt.

During World War II the collections were moved to surrounding villages in 1943; holdings that remained in the museum were destroyed by an aerial mine in 1944, and improper storage after the war caused even greater damage. In 1968 the museum had to close. From 1980 a small team continued working on the collection in cramped conditions.

After 27 years without exhibitions, the museum reopened on March 4, 1995, in the converted woad warehouse “Große Arche”. Over several floors, the permanent exhibition presents Thuringia's habitats, from forest and field to the city, as well as the history of the earth; the Schwethelm mineral collection in the basement was added in 2004, and in 2016 the section “Naturschätze Thüringens” (Natural Treasures of Thuringia) with more than 500 specimens. A walk-in Noah's Ark addresses species conservation.

The museum of the city of Erfurt is also a research institution, with focuses including entomology, and has a good reputation for taxidermy and specimen preparation. It also designs the exhibition in the keep of the Burgruine Gleichen castle ruin.

Highlights

• Walk-in “Noah's Ark” with animals from around the world and items seized by customs, on species conservation
• Dioramas on Thuringia's forests, fields and urban nature
• “Naturschätze Thüringens” with more than 500 specimens
• Schwethelm mineral collection in the basement beneath the woad warehouse
• Rock wall and fossils on the geological history of Thuringia

Permanent exhibitions

• Naturraum Thüringen – Dioramas on urban nature, fields, dry grasslands, wetlands and forests of Thuringia, plus a rock wall and fossils on the history of the earth from the Ordovician to the Quaternary.
• Arche Noah – Walk-in ship's hull in the basement with animals from around the world and confiscated souvenirs made from protected species – a plea for preserving biodiversity.
• Naturschätze Thüringens – More than 500 specimens of rare, endangered and returning animal and plant species of Thuringia, complemented by audio stations.

Founded

1922

Operated by

Stadt Erfurt

Director

Matthias Hartmann

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on the first Tuesday of every month

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access via a ramp (4 m, 7% gradient); elevator to the second and third floors only when accompanied by staff, mobile ramp on the third floor. Noah's Ark and the fourth floor are not reachable by wheelchair. Restroom can only be approached from the right (100 cm, depth 60 cm). Accessible parking spaces in the Domplatz parking garage (about 400 m, partly cobblestones). Guided tours, including for blind visitors, by advance booking.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Child-friendly tours from preschool age through the museum education department. Activity booklets for children (including the coloring booklet tour "Bunte Tierwelt") at the ticket desk. Children's birthday parties for ages 6 and up (approx. 2 hrs., up to 10 children) with a riddle tour through the Noah's Ark and crafts; register about 4 weeks in advance.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit