October 23, 2026 – March 14, 2027
Rund um die Uhr! Zeitgeschichte(n) aus fünf Jahrhunderten
Timepieces ranging from Baroque automatons to the modern stopwatch are presented as witnesses to historical events, inventions and personal moments.
Schlossmuseum Darmstadt
Museum in Darmstadt's Residenzschloss: period rooms with the art and domestic culture of the landgraves and grand dukes of Hesse-Darmstadt.
Opening hoursAdmission from €6
Current exhibitions
About the museum
For centuries, the Residenzschloss (residential palace) in the center of Darmstadt was the seat of the landgraves and later grand dukes of Hesse-Darmstadt. After the last grand duke, Ernst Ludwig, was deposed in 1918, much of the palace's furnishings remained his private property. At his initiative, the former state and living rooms of the old palace were converted into a museum, which opened in 1924.
During the Darmstadt firestorm in September 1944, the palace burned out almost completely; mainly the parts of the collection that had been moved elsewhere survived. After reconstruction, the museum reopened in 1965 in rebuilt rooms of the Glockenbau and Kirchenbau wings. The other wings are now used by the Technische Universität Darmstadt and the Deutsches Polen-Institut. The museum rooms were renovated from 2013 to 2015, which also created a room for special exhibitions.
The showrooms, furnished by period, display paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from the late 16th to the early 20th century – furniture, tapestries, clocks, glass, ceramics, and gold and silver work. They convey courtly domestic culture and the many ties between the House of Hesse-Darmstadt and other European dynasties, for example in Russia and Great Britain. The period rooms can only be seen on a guided tour. The museum is run by the Verein Schlossmuseum Darmstadt e. V.; in 2024 it celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Highlights
- Period rooms from the late 16th to the early 20th century
- Portraits and mementos of the dynastic ties to Russia and Great Britain
- Paintings by Johann Conrad Seekatz and a portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna by Winterhalter
- Clocks, tapestries, and gold and silver work from the grand ducal collection
- Theatrical and themed guided tours of the palace
Permanent exhibitions
- Epochenräume – Showrooms furnished by stylistic period, with paintings, furniture and decorative arts on the history of the residence and the House of Hesse-Darmstadt; guided tour only.
- Founded
- 1924
- Operated by
- Schlossmuseum Darmstadt e. V.
- Director
- Alexa-Beatrice Christ
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Children and teens aged 6 to 18, university students, trainees, people with severe disabilities (over 50%), DA-Card holders, Darmstadt residents with a social benefits ID, groups of 10 or more |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 5 · Children under 6 free, ages 6–18 reduced. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3Reduced with a degree of disability over 50%. |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personGroups should always register in advance. Special guided tours: 60 min €60 or 90 min €80, plus €3 per person; school tours €3 per student. |
| Themed guided tour | €8 |
| Theatrical guided tour | €10 |
| Combination ticket for the Schlossmuseum and Porzellanmuseum | €8Reduced €4; valid for 12 months, not valid for themed tours, events or special exhibitions. |
| Admission during the special exhibition “Rund um die Uhr!” | €8Reduced €6 (as stated on the exhibition page). |
Free admission for, among others, teachers accompanying school classes, tour guides, ICOM and Museumsbund members, holders of the Darmstadt volunteer card (Ehrenamtskarte) and members of the Freunde des Schlossmuseums. The prices page lists €6/€3 for the permanent exhibition, the exhibition page €8/€6.
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 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Bookable children's tours (about 60 minutes, max. 10 children) for preschoolers up to 12-year-olds, e.g., puzzle tours and flashlight tours; also as a children's birthday party. Family tours in the program.
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 | Visits to the period rooms only with a guided tour; palace tours Fri–Sun starting at 10:00 every 90 minutes. Themed, family, children's (birthday) and school tours; special tours can also be booked in English, French or Russian. |
