Orgelmuseum Kelheim

About the museum

The museum is housed in the former monastery church of the Kelheim Franciscans, a late Gothic building below the Befreiungshalle on the Michaelsberg. The monastery was founded in 1465 and dissolved in 1803 during secularization; the church was then no longer publicly accessible for a long time. The ensemble also includes the south wing of the cloister with frescoes from around 1600 and the small St. Michael's Church.

When parts of the cloister were at risk of collapse in the early 1990s, the church administration decided on a renovation. In 1993 the parish foundation, the district, the city, the Kreissparkasse savings bank and citizens founded a friends' association, which took over running the museum. At the suggestion of state conservator Sixtus Lampl, who gave up four organs from his collection, the organ museum took shape: from 1997 the historic instruments from Bruck, Geiselhöring, Allersdorf and Köfering were installed, and functional models of organ building were added.

The permanent exhibition "Die Welt der Orgel – Königin der Instrumente" was officially opened on May 12, 2006. An audio guide links the information panels with sound examples from seven centuries of organ music.

Highlights

• Four restored, playable historic organs from Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate
• Organ models that explain the construction and tonal colors of an organ
• Audio guide with musical examples from Landini to Ligeti (German and English)
• Former Franciscan church with cloister and frescoes from around 1600
• Location below the Befreiungshalle

Permanent exhibition

• Die Welt der Orgel – Königin der Instrumente – A walk through six stations from the early forms of the organ to modern concert organs, with four historic organs, functional models and listening stations.

Founded

2006

Operated by

Förderverein Orgelmuseum Franziskanerkirche Kelheim e. V.

Admission & discounts

Admission to the museum includes the audio-guided tour.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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

Neither the access to the museum nor the museum itself is accessible.

Kids & families

There is a family ticket for families with children aged 6 to 14.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on Michaelsberg, directly below the Befreiungshalle; the entrance is on a gravel courtyard (Am Kirchensteig 4).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small museum shop in the entrance area.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit