Philipp Matthäus Hahn Museum
Museum in the Romanesque "Kasten" of Onstmettingen about the pastor and inventor Philipp Matthäus Hahn: clocks, scales, and astronomical machines.
About the museum
The museum is devoted to Philipp Matthäus Hahn (1739–1790), who was pastor in Onstmettingen from 1764 to 1770. Alongside his office, he built astronomical clocks and celestial machines together with the local schoolmaster Philipp Gottfried Schaudt and developed novel scales. In doing so he laid the foundation for the precision engineering and scale-making that still play an important role on the Zollernalb today.
The museum is housed in the so-called Kasten, the former Johanneskirche, whose origins go back to around 940. After the Reformation period the building long served as a grain store and later fell increasingly into disrepair. Citizens founded the Arbeitskreis Kasten (working group) to save the building from demolition; it was restored between 1981 and 1989, and the museum opened in 1989.
On display are sundials, table clocks, and pocket watches, large astronomical clocks, hydrostatic and precision scales, and measuring instruments from Hahn's circle. A special piece is a working eleven-digit calculating machine for all four basic arithmetic operations. In the nave, remnants of old wall paintings are also preserved. The museum belongs to the municipal museums of Albstadt; in addition, in Onstmettingen there is the collection of scales and weights in the Haus der 1000 Waagen (House of 1,000 Scales).
Highlights
- Astronomical clocks and celestial machines after Philipp Matthäus Hahn
- Working eleven-digit calculating machine
- Precision and hydrostatic scales
- Former Johanneskirche from the 10th century with remnants of wall paintings
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- Stadt Albstadt (Museen Albstadt)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people under 18 free. |
| Annual pass for all municipal museums of Albstadt | €20 |
| Annual family pass for all municipal museums of Albstadt | €30 |
On event days such as International Museum Day, admission is free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
For children there have recently been holiday activity days where they experiment with sundials, sand clocks, and water clocks. Admission is free under age 18.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours as well as programs for school classes and kindergartens (e.g., experiments on timekeeping, €30 per group) through the education and outreach department of the Museen Albstadt, tel. 07431 160-1230. |
