Riesengebirgsmuseum
Germany's only Riesengebirge (Giant Mountains) museum, in Marktoberdorf, commemorates flight, expulsion and new beginnings after 1945.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In autumn 1946, three transports carrying around 1,800 people expelled from the Riesengebirge (Giant Mountains) reached Marktoberdorf. They found a new home in the town and its surroundings and brought keepsakes, customs and stories with them, including the legendary mountain spirit Rübezahl, to whom a fountain on the Buchel above the town is dedicated.
The Heimatkreis Hohenelbe/Riesengebirge e. V. (home district association), founded in 1955, began early on to systematically collect the items brought along. From this grew the Riesengebirgsmuseum, which is now housed in the Martinsheim, in the same building as the town museum. The city of Marktoberdorf runs it together with the home district association.
The collection includes household and craft tools such as a ladder wagon, tools, a multi-part festive costume, historic skis, paintings, books, maps and photographs. The town flag of Hohenelbe, rescued at great personal risk in May 1945, stands for the fate of an entire region. The tour also explains the landscape, history and winter sports tradition of the Riesengebirge.
Highlights
- Germany's only Riesengebirge museum
- Town flag of Hohenelbe, rescued at great risk in 1945
- Festive costume, ladder wagon and craft tools from the old homeland
- Historic skis and winter sports history
- Children's and school tours with Rübezahl, the mountain spirit
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung zum Riesengebirge und zur Heimatvertreibung – Costumes, craft tools, maps, photographs and winter sports items tell of the homeland of the expellees and their new beginning in the Allgäu.
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Stadt Marktoberdorf
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Tours for kindergarten groups and school classes with the legendary figure Rübezahl as guide.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bahnhof Marktoberdorf · 10-min walk
Within walking distance of Marktoberdorf train station.
The museum is located in the Martinsheim (Eberle-Kögl-Straße 11), together with the town museum and the Paul-Röder-Museum.
Get directionsAmenities & 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 | Tours by telephone appointment (tel. +49 8342 4008-81). Kindergarten and school groups can be accompanied through the museum by Rübezahl, the mountain spirit. |
