Otto-König-von-Griechenland-Museum

About the museum

Ottobrunn owes its name to a farewell: on December 6, 1832, the 17-year-old Prince Otto of Wittelsbach parted from his father, King Ludwig I, on the country road to Rosenheim and traveled on to his new kingdom of Greece. Since 1834 the Ottosäule (Otto Column) has marked the spot; today it is the landmark and coat-of-arms motif of the municipality, which became independent in 1955.

The museum goes back to the collecting passion of Ottobrunn's honorary citizen Jan Murken, who gathered objects relating to Otto and his era over decades. With the support of the municipality, it was set up in the town hall in December 1989, initially on 80 square meters; in 2000 the space was expanded to 174 square meters. Today Tabea Förth heads the museum, which is supported by a friends' association with around 180 members.

The focus is not the town's recent history but Otto's roughly 30-year reign in Greece. The collection comprises more than 200 objects on philhellenism, the Greek War of Independence and the building of the young state, along with views of the capitals Nafplio and Athens, silver and porcelain from the royal table, and clocks and jewelry owned by Otto. A gallery shows paintings and watercolors by artists including Peter von Hess and Karl Wilhelm von Heideck, as well as prints by Schinkel and Rottmann. Many texts are also written in Greek. Since 1996 the museum has published its own series of publications; in 2026, thanks to donations, it was able to acquire an equestrian statuette of King Otto made around 1835.

Highlights

• Silver and porcelain from the royal table in Athens
• Clocks and jewelry from King Otto's personal possessions
• Paintings and watercolors by Peter von Hess and Karl Wilhelm von Heideck
• Prints by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Carl Rottmann
• Equestrian statuette of King Otto, c. 1835 (to be presented on December 3, 2026)

Permanent exhibitions

• König Otto von Griechenland und seine Zeit – With more than 200 objects, paintings and prints, the permanent exhibition presents Otto I's work in Greece, philhellenism and the beginnings of the modern Greek state.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Gemeinde Ottobrunn

Director

Tabea Förth

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission. Museum catalog (120 pages) available at the museum for €5.

Accessibility

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