Rosenmuseum Steinfurth

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The impetus for founding the museum came from a find: rose grower and city councilor Ria Steinhauer discovered an old porcelain label from the Steinfurth rose company Schultheis in a field. Together with local politician Franz Gabriel, she set up a local history and rose museum in 1974 in the former town hall of the village, which had shortly before been incorporated into Bad Nauheim; it was initially run by volunteers. Steinhauer's own collection of rose-related objects formed its core.

The museum occupies a listed half-timbered building from the late 18th century. It originally stood as a revenue office at the saltworks near Wisselsheim and, after the saltworks closed, was dismantled and re-erected in Steinfurth, where it served as a forester's house and later as the town hall. After renovation, the building reopened in 1990 as a specialist museum of the cultural history of the rose; an extension and a newly designed exhibition followed by 2003.

When the City of Bad Nauheim wanted to close the museum in 2013 to save costs, Steinfurth rose growers formed a supporting association that took over operations in early 2014. Today the collection comprises several thousand objects – porcelain, prints, paintings, jewelry, toys, decorative paper, tools and the company archives of local rose businesses – complemented by a specialist library. Special exhibitions that change annually explore individual topics. In 2022 the State of Hesse named it Museum of the Month.

Highlights

• Original edition of Pierre-Joseph Redouté's plate work "Les Roses"
• Section "Rosige Zeiten" on rose growing in Steinfurth since 1868
• Botanical rose painting from several centuries
• Redesigned section on rose fragrance
• Japanese haiku stone in the small museum garden
• Museum café with its own home-baked rose cake

Permanent exhibitions

• Ständige Ausstellung zur Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte der Rose – A tour through botanical rose painting, the rose in the fine arts and as a symbol of love, garden roses, rose fragrance and the history of rose growing in Steinfurth.

Founded

1974

Operated by

Rosenmuseum Steinfurth e. V.

Director

Madelaine Heck

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for volunteer service participants, recipients of benefits under SGB II and XII (German social welfare), Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card) holders, rose queens and association members. Different prices apply for special events. Cash only – debit (EC) and credit cards are not accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance is accessible for wheelchair and rollator users; inside there is an elevator and an accessible restroom. Portable seating is available on every floor. Assistance dogs are allowed with proof of status.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthday parties with a discovery tour of the exhibition and a creative workshop (mornings, around 2 hours, up to 12 children, €160). For daycare groups and school classes there are children's tours on rose fairy tales or the rose and all the senses, as well as workshops such as plant printing or making paints. Rooms for baby care are available in the basement.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A5, exit Bad Nauheim, then take the B3 toward Bad Nauheim and follow the signs to Steinfurth.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café im Rosenmuseum on the first floor (around 20 seats inside, twelve on the terrace, self-service) with the museum's own rose cake made from organic ingredients; museum shop with rose souvenirs. Cloakroom and lockers in the basement are free; jackets, larger bags and backpacks must be left there. Small dogs up to 8 kg are allowed in the café, larger dogs on the terrace.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit