Religionskundliche Sammlung
University collection of religious studies in the Alten Landgericht (Old Regional Court) below Marburg Castle; visits by registration, free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Protestant theologian and philosopher of religion Rudolf Otto founded the collection in 1927. On travels through Central, East and Southeast Asia he had acquired objects of various religions, supported by the Marburger Universitätsbund (university support association). In 1929 the first exhibition, "Fremde Heiligtümer" (Foreign Sanctuaries), showed the holdings in today's art museum building; in 1950 the collection moved into the Landgrafenschloss (Landgrave's Castle). From the 1930s on it grew through donations and long-term loans from missionaries in Africa and Oceania, as well as through purchases and bequests.
In the early 1980s the collection found its present home in the Alte Landgericht below the castle. The four-story Renaissance building was constructed in 1573–1575 to plans by the landgrave's master builder Ebert Baldewein as the chancery of the Landgraves of Hesse, later served for decades as a courthouse, and has belonged to the university since 1961. Since 1998 the discipline of religious studies has also been based here.
The holdings comprise more than 10,000 objects, a large part of which is shown on over 700 square meters in the permanent exhibition. It presents religious practice and tradition through ritual objects, figures, icons and domestic altars, for example in the Egypt section with a painted mummy coffin roughly 2,500 years old, and on Judaism, Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Islam and Hinduism. The collection is also a non-school place of learning.
Highlights
- Painted mummy coffin, about 2,500 years old, in the Egypt section
- Judaica with objects on the annual festivals
- Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Islam and Hinduism through ritual objects
- Renaissance building of 1573–75, formerly the landgrave's chancery
- Themed guided tours and museum quizzes available to download
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung der Religionskundlichen Sammlung – Ritual objects, figures, icons and domestic altars from Egypt, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and other religions across several floors.
- Founded
- 1927
- Operated by
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- Visitors per year
- approx. 350
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission and guided tours are free; donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- 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
The building has no elevator; the three floors are connected only by a spiral staircase, and the route leads over steep cobblestones. The team strives for individual solutions; please inquire in advance.
Kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Five museum quizzes on themes of the exhibition are available to download; school classes are welcome.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From the main station by bus to Rudolfsplatz, then by the Oberstadt elevator into the upper town and via the Marktplatz and Schlosstreppe to the collection (about 5 minutes from the Marktplatz); alternatively city bus line 10 to Schlossplatz.
By car
There is hardly any parking in the upper town. Access is only via the Sybelstraße through the Kalbstor (height 2.5 m, width 2 m); parking at the entrance can be arranged on request.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | General tours of the permanent exhibition and themed guided tours, for example on Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, ancient Egypt or Oceania; individual tours by interest are also possible. The collection serves as a non-school place of learning. |
