Altes Schloss Schleißheim

About the museum

Duke Maximilian I had the Altes Schloss Schleißheim built in 1617. After severe war damage, the building was reconstructed from 1970 and completed in 1989; since then it has served as a branch museum of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum. Two independent collections can be seen here under one roof, with a shared admission ticket.

The north wing is occupied by the Ecumenical Collection Gertrud Weinhold. The Berlin patron Gertrud Weinhold (1899–1992) assembled it on many journeys and bequeathed it to the Free State of Bavaria; its presentation has been largely preserved in its original state. Under the title "Das Gottesjahr und seine Feste" (The Church Year and Its Festivals), around 250 display cases with more than 6,000 objects lead across denominations through religious festivals and customs from around the world, from over 120 nativity scenes to Passion and Easter customs; the "Paradies" (Paradise) section presents testimonies from Judaism, Islam and Buddhism.

In the south wing, the Collection on the Regional Studies of East and West Prussia shows the permanent exhibition "Es war ein Land …" (There Was a Land …), whose title alludes to a poem by the East Prussian poet Agnes Miegel. Around 400 objects trace the development of the cultural landscape between the Vistula and the Memel, from the time of the Teutonic Order to the expulsion of the Germans after the Second World War. Highlights include figures such as Immanuel Kant, Max Halbe, Agnes Miegel and Lovis Corinth, the Albertus University of Königsberg founded in 1544, and the theme of religious tolerance. The holdings come from the Ost- und Westpreußenstiftung in Bayern, whose work is explained at the end of the tour.

Highlights

• Two collections under one roof with a shared admission ticket
• "Das Gottesjahr und seine Feste": over 6,000 objects of religious festival culture from around the world
• More than 120 nativity scenes in the Gertrud Weinhold collection
• "Es war ein Land …": around 400 objects from the Teutonic Order to the expulsion
• Figures such as Immanuel Kant, Agnes Miegel and Lovis Corinth
• Bronze copy of the "Fighting Bison" after August Gaul

Permanent exhibitions

• Das Gottesjahr und seine Feste – The presentation of religious festival and everyday culture from around the world, arranged by Gertrud Weinhold and preserved largely unchanged, in the north wing, from nativity scenes to funeral customs.
• Es war ein Land … – A tour through the art, culture and history of East and West Prussia in the south wing, from the Teutonic Order to the expulsion after the Second World War.

Operated by

Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Zweigmuseum); Gebäude: Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung

Admission & discounts

One ticket is valid for both collections in the Old Palace. Card payment is not possible.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Step-free side entrance with a doorbell to the right of the main entrance (Effnerstraße 9); all levels are reachable by elevator. Six marked accessible parking spaces at the Effnerstraße car park, about 40 m from the side entrance via a firm gravel path. Accessible restroom in the building.

Kids & families

Children under 14 are admitted only when accompanied by an adult supervisor.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 92 (exit Oberschleißheim) or the A 99 (exit Neuherberg). Navigation address: Maximilianshof 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim; entrance for wheelchair users on Effnerstraße 9.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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