Röntgen-Gedächtnisstätte
The original laboratory where Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895 – a small exhibition in the former Physics Institute in Würzburg.
About the museum
At the University of Würzburg's Physics Institute, on what is now Röntgenring, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen first observed on November 8, 1895, the rays that would later bear his name. A few weeks later, in January 1896, he presented his discovery publicly in the institute's lecture hall – a discovery that fundamentally changed medicine and physics and earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
To keep the memory of this place alive, the Röntgen-Kuratorium Würzburg e. V. was founded in December 1981. This nonprofit association set up a memorial in the building, which is now used by the Technische Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt; it opened in November 1985.
At the heart of the memorial is the reconstructed discovery laboratory with the experimental setup with which Röntgen made his observation. In the anteroom, documents, personal items, and certificates tell the story of Röntgen's life; also on display are experimental physics instruments from the late 19th century, X-ray tubes, and an early medical X-ray unit. For the 125th anniversary of the discovery in 2020, the exhibition was completely redesigned and media stations were added.
Highlights
- The discovery laboratory with the experimental setup from 1895
- Documents and personal items from Röntgen's life
- Historic X-ray tubes and early medical X-ray technology
- Free admission; a visit takes 30–45 minutes
Permanent exhibitions
- Röntgen-Gedächtnisstätte: Entdeckungslabor und Ausstellung – The laboratory of the discovery with its original experimental setup, plus an exhibition redesigned in 2020 on Röntgen's life and work and early X-ray technology.
- Founded
- 1985
- Operated by
- Röntgen-Kuratorium Würzburg e. V.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | –Free admission; on group tours, children under 6 are free. |
|---|---|
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per personGroup tour (about 1 hour, registration required): €30 base fee plus €5 per person; children under 6 free. |
| Group tour (base fee, plus €5 per person) | €30Registration via the contact form. |
Visits without a guided tour are free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- 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
According to the website, the memorial is on the second floor; there is an elevator, but it can only be used during group tours. The laboratory can be viewed through a glass door.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 40 min |
|---|
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available · 2-min walk to the entrance
Parkhaus Juliusspital (about a 2-minute walk) or parking at the main train station (about a 4-minute walk).
Entrance via the staircase at Röntgenring 8 (by the flags).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Self-guided visit about 30–45 minutes. Group tours (about 1 hour) for groups of 10 or more by appointment only. Virtual tour on Google Arts & Culture. |
