Special exhibition
Burgk im Bilde
Views of the palace from several centuries in paintings, watercolors, prints, and porcelain painting, expanded with 21st-century works; end date not specified.
Schloss Burgk
Reuss residence high above the Saale river, with a knights' hall, castle kitchen, Silbermann organ, and one of Europe's great bookplate (ex libris) collections.
Opening hoursAdmission from €8
Current exhibitions
From July 16, 2022
Erde – Wasser – Luft – Feuer. Keramiken von Angelika Kühn von Hintzenstern
Hand-built vessels, reliefs, and vessel sculptures by the ceramicist, who died in 2022; no end date specified.
About the museum
Schloss Burgk sits on a rocky spur above the Saale near Schleiz and is one of the few largely preserved late medieval castle complexes in Thuringia. The castle is first mentioned in 1365; after it was destroyed, Heinrich VII had it rebuilt from 1403. Fortifications such as the Roter Turm (Red Tower) were added in the 16th century, and in 1596 the complex passed to the House of Reuss Elder Line, which owned it until 1945.
From 1616, the castle was converted into a residential palace. It flourished in the 18th century under Heinrich III Reuss-Untergreiz: Baroque interiors were created, the palace chapel received an organ by Gottfried Silbermann in 1743, and the Rococo Schallhaus (sound pavilion) was built in the Sophienpark.
The palace has been a museum since 1952. Alongside the historic living and state rooms, with the knights' hall and the castle kitchen with its huge smoke hood, it shows contemporary art in the Neue Galerie and in the Grafik-Kabinett and Pirckheimer-Kabinett.
It is particularly known for its bookplate (ex libris) collection, founded in 1981 with a donation; following a major Danish donation in 2023, it now comprises more than 200,000 sheets by artists from over 60 countries. The museum is run by the Saale-Orla district.
Highlights
- Silbermann organ from 1743 in the Baroque palace chapel
- Knights' hall with a wooden ceiling spanning the room without supports
- Historic castle kitchen with a tall smoke hood and roasting jack
- Bookplate collection with more than 200,000 sheets
- Rococo Schallhaus in the Sophienpark
- Setting on a rocky spur above the Saale valley
Permanent exhibitions
- Historische Schlossräume – A walk through the living and state rooms, knights' hall, castle kitchen, and palace chapel with its Silbermann organ.
- Founded
- 1952
- Operated by
- Saale-Orla-Kreis
- Director
- Anja Klötzing (kommissarisch)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6University students, seniors, people with disabilities, the unemployed, benefit recipients (with proof) |
| Children & teens | –Children and school students up to and including grade 13 free. |
| Seniors | €6 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €6Policy for companions not specified. |
| Students & apprentices | €6 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7 per personGroups of 15 or more; reduced €5, children and school students free. Guided tours for groups extra (about 90 min., €4 per person, or a flat €60 for 8–15 people). |
| Families | –No separate family rate; children and school students get free admission; the Mehrkinderfamilienkarte (large-family card) is accepted. |
| Organ recital for groups of 15 or more (per person) | €8Children/school students €4; 8–15 people flat €120 plus admission; by appointment only |
| Historical introduction for groups of 15 or more (per person) | €2about 30 min.; 8–15 people flat €25 plus admission |
Discounts also with regional guest cards (Ziegenrück, Saalburg, Bad Lobenstein, Leutenberg), the Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card), EGRONET proof, and the Thüringer Wald Card.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: not available
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: not available
Listed historic palace, not accessible: three floors without an elevator, access over historic cobblestones. One accessible parking space at the village square in front of the palace. Printed museum guide and information in Easy Read German (Leichte Sprache); audio guide in preparation. Guided tours possible with a sign language interpreter you bring yourself. Pets not allowed except assistance dogs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly: not available
Fairy-tale Sundays, Thuringian Palaces Children's Day, and weekend and holiday programs for children; educational programs for kindergartens and school classes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
KomBus line between Schleiz and Burgk.
By car
Parking available · 500 m to the entrance
Parking lot at the Saaleturm at the village entrance (130 spaces); the footpath to the palace slopes downhill and is partly cobblestone. One accessible parking space on the village square directly in front of the palace complex.
- Accessible parking
The village of Burgk is closed to car traffic.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
No dining of its own; nearby are Schloßterrasse Burgk and Tola's Zollhaus. Museum shop.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 400 guests.
Civil weddings in the knights' hall (120 people), church weddings in the palace chapel (120), as well as the Sophienhaus and Kleiner Saal; castle kitchen (35), Mühlengewölbe (60), Amtshaussaal (50), Zwinger (up to 200 standing), and courtyard (200 seated/400 standing) for celebrations, seminars, and events.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours (about 90 min.), historical introductions, and recitals on the Silbermann organ for groups with advance registration. 14 museum education programs for elementary school through grade 7, plus programs for kindergartens. |
