Bibelzentrum Barth

About the museum

The Bibelzentrum is located on the edge of Barth's old town on the grounds of the St. Jürgen Hospital, first mentioned in 1320. Outside the town gates, lepers were cared for here; the Gothic chapel was built around 1390. After the Thirty Years' War, the complex had partly collapsed; around 1730, a half-timbered house with 18 small living chambers was added to the surviving choir, in which first the sick and later mainly widows with their children lived.

After the last resident moved out in the 1980s, the building fell into disrepair. Conversion began in 1998, and on Reformation Day 2001 the Bibelzentrum was opened as a museum and education center. In 2004 a conference and seminar building was added, the so-called blue house, in 2012 a redesigned exhibition in the attic and in 2017 a Christian rose garden as an extension of the Bible garden. Today the center is run by the Nordkirche, supported by its own foundation.

The exhibition centers on the Bible in Low German printed in Barth in 1588. Around it, the rooms tell of the art of writing, printing, the Reformation and the church year; visitors can write with a quill themselves and print on a historic press. In the attic, an interactive multimedia show on the Ten Commandments invites reflection, and outdoors the Bible garden shows about 150 plants with a biblical or Christian connection.

Highlights

• Barth Bible of 1588 in Low German
• Gothic St. Jürgen hospital chapel with uncovered wall paintings
• Writing room and printing workshop to try yourself
• Multimedia exhibition on the Ten Commandments in the attic
• Bible garden with about 150 plants and Christian rose garden

Permanent exhibitions

• Bibelmuseum – Exhibition in the former almshouse on the Bible, the Reformation and book printing with the Barth Bible of 1588, a medieval writing room and a printing workshop.
• Multimedia-Ausstellung zu den Zehn Geboten – Interactive installations in the attic that, based on the Ten Commandments, ask about freedom, responsibility and living together.
• Bibel- und Rosengarten – Garden with about 150 labeled plants with a biblical or Christian connection, complemented by 38 rose varieties with Christian-inspired names.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland (Nordkirche)

Director

Doreen Habermann

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Children can write with quill and ink, print on the historic printing press and assemble a large creation puzzle. For children's groups there is the tour "Zeitreise", plus events such as "Nachts im Museum" (night at the museum) and a geocaching tour on the Ten Commandments through Barth.

Getting there & parking

The Bibelzentrum is almost directly on the Baltic Sea long-distance cycle route. By car from the direction of Löbnitz (B 105) or Flemendorf, follow the signs to the Bibelzentrum parking lot.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small shop in the entrance area with Bible editions, books, children's books, cards and its own Bible garden tea.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit