Rhönmuseum

About the museum

The Rhönmuseum was founded in 1921 on the initiative of district administrator Alfred Jacob. From the start, it was meant to present not only its own district but the entire Rhön across state borders. In its early years, natural history collections such as herbaria and insect collections were added alongside regional history objects; a friends' association secured its operation from 1925.

After the Second World War, the collection was systematically expanded with the support of the Bavarian monument preservation authority, with folklore at its center. However, the inner-German border cut Fladungen off from large parts of the Rhön and put an end, for the time being, to the idea of a museum for the whole region. In the 1980s, border tourism brought many visitors, after which visitor numbers and funding dropped significantly.

In 2015, the Rhön-Grabfeld district and the town of Fladungen took over the building as a joint municipal enterprise. The listed Amtshaus on the market square was extensively renovated and the museum was redesigned. It reopened on March 30, 2025: across four levels, themed islands in the foyer play with familiar Rhön clichés, two exhibition floors look at the region from different perspectives, and an event and activity space invites visitors to consider what makes the Rhön what it is. Two special exhibitions are added each year. The museum is connected to the nearby Fränkisches Freilandmuseum (Franconian Open-Air Museum) through a cooperation and a shared connecting path.

Highlights

• New permanent exhibition "Die Rhön unter einem Dach" on two floors
• Themed islands in the foyer on Rhön clichés such as the Rhön sheep and the Rhönrad (gymnastics wheel)
• Rhön wood carvings such as carnival masks and nodding figures
• Baroque nativity figures from the 18th century
• Natural history collections with a herbarium and an insect collection
• Historic Amtshaus on Fladungen's market square

Permanent exhibitions

• Die Rhön unter einem Dach – The permanent exhibition, opened in 2025, approaches the nature, culture, and history of the Rhön from different perspectives across two floors; themed islands in the foyer poke fun at typical Rhön clichés.

Founded

1921

Operated by

Rhönmuseum gKU (Landkreis Rhön-Grabfeld und Stadt Fladungen)

Director

Eva-Maria König

Admission & discounts

With a regular single day ticket for the Fränkisches Freilandmuseum Fladungen, reduced admission applies in the same calendar year (and vice versa). Public guided tours cost only the museum admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum sees itself as a destination for young and old; children under 6 have free admission, and there is a family ticket and an annual family ticket.

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Marktplatz 1, 97650 Fladungen. By bike via the Streutalweg, the Rhön-Rennsteig-Weg, the "Vom Main zur Rhön" route, or the Grünes Band (Green Belt); free e-bike charging station and bike parking just before the museum. Numerous hiking trails run through Fladungen, including the Museumstour, the Grünes Band, and the long-distance trails E3 and E6.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Small museum café at the entrance with regional hot and cold drinks (no food); museum shop. Seating and reading corners throughout the building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit