Salzgitter's city museum in a Renaissance palace from 1608: earth history with an ichthyosaur, Neanderthals, industry, and childhood – free admission.
September 13, 2026 – November 22, 2026
Annual exhibition of the municipal art collections featuring new art from Lower Saxony, this time on the theme of confusion and changing perspectives; in the cow barn, with workshops and guided tours.
August 19, 2026 – October 18, 2026
About 90 dioramas with hundreds of model commercial vehicles from a private Salzgitter collection, shown in the sheep barn; family-friendly.
August 22, 2026 – November 29, 2026
Spotlights on the consequences of war and on battles fought in what is now the city area, shown in the Tillyhaus in Salzgitter-Bad (Sat/Sun 11:00–16:00).
The palace in what is now Salzgitter-Salder was built from 1608 onward in the Weser Renaissance style for David Sachse, an official of the Duchy of Brunswick; its architect is believed to have been Paul Francke. The estate later passed to the von Saldern family and, in 1695, to Hereditary Prince August Wilhelm of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, who had the house remodeled. After World War I it went to the Free State of Brunswick, and from 1939 to the Reichswerke; in 1955 the city of Salzgitter took over the complex for the symbolic price of one mark.
After several years of restoration, the city opened its municipal museum here on December 14, 1962. Structural damage made a comprehensive renovation necessary from 1975, and the building reopened in 1981. Over time the estate's farm buildings were added: the horse stable, cow barn, and sheep barn now serve as exhibition spaces, the relocated Osterlinde post mill stands in the mill garden, and since 2006 an Ice Age garden has completed the grounds.
The permanent exhibitions span the period from earth history to the 20th century. The showpiece of the geology section is an ichthyosaur found underground in an iron ore mine in 1940; the archaeology section focuses especially on the Neanderthals from the Krähenriede site in Lebenstedt. Further sections cover the Middle Ages, the early modern period, iron ore mining, the construction of the steelworks, and the founding of the city of Salzgitter in 1942, as well as – with a large toy collection – the history of childhood. Every year the Salon Salder presents current art from Lower Saxony; admission to all exhibitions is free.
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Guided tours and educational programs by advance booking (museum education department). |
|---|
Free admission to permanent and special exhibitions. Children's birthday parties and workshops are charged separately.
The exhibition rooms in the palace can only be reached by stairs; an elevator is planned. The exhibition area in the sheep barn has few barriers.
Great for kids & families
Permanent exhibitions deliberately designed for children as well; learning workshop in the vaulted cellar for crafting and experimenting, family programs and birthday parties for 6- to 11-year-olds; puzzle app "Spürnasen Salzgitter."
Museumstraße
Bus lines 612 and 613 to the stop "Museumstraße."
Free parking
Free in the palace courtyard or at the visitor parking lot on the street "Hinter dem Knick"; at the Museumstraße entrance, two parking spaces with a charging station (paid).
Via the A39, exit Salzgitter-Lebenstedt Süd, to Salder and immediately right onto Museumstraße.
Get directionsCertified in the Kinderferienland Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony children's holiday land) program.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Recognized out-of-school learning venue; guided tours and educational programs by advance booking (tel. 05341 839-4631, museum@stadt.salzgitter.de). Baking days at the historic bakehouse according to the events calendar. |
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