Schlossmuseum Jever

About the museum

Jever Castle goes back to a fortress of the late 14th century, which was expanded into a residence under Maria of Jever in the 16th century. The small lordship then changed hands several times: to Oldenburg, to the princes of Anhalt-Zerbst, who gave the tower a Baroque cap, for a time to the Russian imperial house, and finally to the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, which had the castle and park redesigned in the Neoclassical style in the 19th century.

The collection itself was founded by the Jeverländischer Altertums- und Heimatverein (Jeverland antiquities and local history society) as early as 1886. After the grand duke moved out in 1918 and a large part of the furnishings had been sold, the local history museum moved into the castle in 1921. Since 1991, a special-purpose association made up of the district of Friesland, the town of Jever, and the local history society has operated the museum; the building and park belong to the state of Lower Saxony.

On four floors, the museum shows the history of the lordship of Jever and the domestic culture of court, town, and country. Highlights are the carved Renaissance coffered ceiling in the audience hall, the Brussels tapestries in the tapestry hall, and the largest public collection of leather wall coverings in Lower Saxony. Also on display are faience, pewter, and silver from Jever workshops, a significant coin collection, clothing from three centuries, and a toy department. The museum received the Lower Saxony Museum Prize in 2005 and bears the museum seal of quality.

Highlights

• Renaissance coffered ceiling in the audience hall (around 1564)
• Brussels tapestries from the late 17th century
• Largest public collection of leather wall coverings in Lower Saxony
• Coin collection as well as faience, pewter, and silver from Jever
• Children's department with toy collection and toy grocery store
• English landscape park around the castle

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung zur Geschichte der Herrschaft Jever – Tour across four floors from the cellar to the attic through state rooms, historic parlors, and collections on domestic culture, crafts, coins, and fashion of the Jeverland region, complemented by a children's department with toys.

Founded

1921

Operated by

Zweckverband Schlossmuseum Jever (Landkreis Friesland, Stadt Jever, Jeverländischer Altertums- und Heimatverein)

Director

Prof. Dr. Antje Sander

Admission & discounts

Members of the Freundeskreis Schlossmuseum Jever (friends' association) have free admission. The castle tower is currently closed due to construction work.

Accessibility

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

Elevator to all floors, accessible restroom on the first floor. Steps, such as at the entrance, are bridged with mobile ramps (gradient approx. 20%); wheelchairs can be borrowed. A smooth footpath leads along the edge of the cobblestone castle square to the entrance. Castle guide and film in Easy Language; tours for blind and mobility-impaired guests on request. Dogs are not allowed in the castle.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children and young people under 18 have free admission. In the children's department in the attic, children can paint, craft, and play in the historic toy grocery store. At the ticket desk, a museum and castle park scavenger hunt, a museum case for smelling, feeling, and discovering, and a nature backpack for the park are available without registration. Children's birthday parties for 6- to 10-year-olds with five themes, children's tours, and school programs. The museum is largely accessible with a stroller, and a baby changing room is available.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café & Tea Pavilion in the former garden room of the Eulenturm (May–October Tue–Sun and public holidays 13:00–18:00, in winter 13:00–17:00); museum shop on the first floor and online.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies in historic rooms such as the audience hall; celebrations of up to 50 people in the Café & Tea Pavilion (registration at least four weeks in advance, only during opening hours). Also a modern conference and event room in the former kitchen.

Plan your visit