Naturkundemuseum im Ottoneum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Ottoneum was built between 1603 and 1606 under Landgrave Moritz of Hesse-Kassel to plans by Wilhelm Vernuken. Named after the landgrave's son Otto, it is considered the first permanent building in Germany constructed specifically as a theater.

As early as the late 17th century, court architect Johann Conrad Giesler had the building remodeled to house the landgraves' art and natural history collections; for a time it was linked to the Collegium Carolinum. Later the rooms served a cadet corps and government offices, among other uses. The natural history holdings, whose roots go back to the landgraves' cabinet of art and curiosities, moved from the Fridericianum to the Ottoneum in 1888, which has served as a natural history museum ever since.

The building was badly damaged in the air raids of October 1943, and many specimens were lost. Reconstruction was followed by a comprehensive renovation in the 1990s. Today the museum is run by the City of Kassel.

The treasures of the collection include the Ratzenberger Herbarium from the 16th century, the Schildbach wood library and the skull of an elephant that Goethe used for anatomical studies. The permanent exhibition takes visitors through the region's geological history and shows fossils from dinosaurs to mammoths as well as the habitats of northern Hesse; large special exhibitions rotate regularly on the first floor.

Highlights

• Goethe elephant: skull used for Goethe's anatomical studies
• Ratzenberger Herbarium (16th century)
• Schildbach wood library with around 530 "wood volumes"
• Fossils and reconstructions from dinosaurs to mammoths
• Live honeybee colony and wild bee exhibition
• Germany's oldest permanent theater building (1606)

Permanent exhibitions

• Erdgeschichte: Von Sauriern zu Mammuts – How the Kassel region was transformed by continental drift and climate change, told through regional fossil finds and reconstructions of dinosaurs, sea cows, cave bears and mammoths.
• Natur in Nordhessen – Regional habitats such as the Reinhardswald and Kaufunger Wald forests, with hundreds of specimens and a live bee colony.
• Historische Sammlungen im Ottoneum – Early collection pieces such as the Ratzenberger Herbarium, the Schildbach wood library and the Goethe elephant, along with the history of the building.

Founded

1888

Operated by

Stadt Kassel

Director

Prof. Dr. Kai Füldner

Admission & discounts

Prices depend on the special exhibition: with a special exhibition, adults €5, reduced €3; without a special exhibition, €2 and €1 respectively. The higher prices apply from October 10, 2026 (special exhibition "Höher Schneller Weiter"). Free for members of the friends' association and holders of an ICOM/Museumsbund card, MeineCard+ and AuszeitCard+.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

According to the City of Kassel, step-free access and an accessible restroom. Website information is also available in Easy Language and sign language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Hands-on stations in the exhibition; family tours, holiday workshops (e.g., dino rally, Stone Age workshop) and family festivals according to the calendar. Children's birthday parties (about 2 hours, from age 6 or 8 depending on the topic) by registration.

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