Museum in the former residence of the Schwarzburg princes, with the ancestral gallery, historic room decorations, a regional museum and the Golden Coach.
November 7, 2026 – April 25, 2027
The exhibition is devoted to Anna Luise von Schwarzburg, the last princess of the dynasty in Sondershausen, and places her life in historical context between the world wars, the Nazi era, Soviet occupation and the GDR.
Sondershausen Castle was the residence of the princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, whose descendants lived here until 1951. Today the museum shows the history of this ruling house and the region over three floors; according to its own account, it has been housed in the former residence castle since 1923.
On the second floor, the ancestral gallery tells the story of the Schwarzburgs; in addition there are notable room decorations such as the Blue Hall (Blauer Saal), the princely natural history cabinet and the vault by the Wendelstein. On the third floor, rooms are devoted to the history of the town and region: from the geological ages through early medieval finds and the medieval town to the mining and music town of Sondershausen, complemented by natural history, archaeology and a small collection of historical instruments.
The highlight of the tour is the Golden Coach of the Schwarzburg princes on the first floor, a French showpiece coach from the early 18th century. The museum also includes the “Galerie im Schloss” exhibition space for modern art and changing exhibitions, the Galerie HS24 with works by Heinz Scharr, and the option to visit the mikveh by prior arrangement.
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children (6–18 years), pupils, students, trainees, severely disabled people, federal volunteer service participants, spa card holders of Bad Frankenhausen, holders of the Sondershausen leisure pass and of the Thuringian honorary card |
| Children & teens | €4Children up to 6 years are admitted free; from 6 to 18 years the reduced rate applies. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4companion free · Reduced rate for severely disabled people. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Pupils, students and trainees. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €5 per personGroups of 15 to 29 people, per person; guided tour surcharge for registered groups €40. |
| Families | €15Maximum 2 adults with all of the family's children aged 6 to 18. |
| Audio guide | €1 |
| Special exhibition “Galerie im Schloss” | €3Per person. |
| Galerie HS24 | €2Credited toward admission to the palace museum. |
| Visit to the mikveh (by prior registration) | €3Per person. |
| Guided tour surcharge for registered groups | €40 |
| Class ticket (single visit with guided tour) | €20For pupils or students. |
| Annual class ticket for Sondershausen schools | €25 |
Free admission for, among others, children up to 6 years, the required companion of a severely disabled visitor, members of the friends' association, and members of ICOM, the German Museums Association and the Thuringian Museums Association; press by prior registration.
Barrier-free access via the Theaterwiese and the Rotunda after telephone registration at the museum ticket desk or with the caretaker (03632 622425 or 622405). Only part of the museum is barrier-free: the Galerie im Schloss, Blauer Saal, ancestral gallery, Steinzimmer, Römisches Zimmer, natural history cabinet, Liebhabertheater and chapel. Information material in Braille is available for visitors with visual impairments.
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €15 · Maximum 2 adults with all of the family's children aged 6 to 18. |
|---|
There is an audio guide for children, eight hands-on stations in the regional museum with the mascot Rosa von Ringschnabel, and age-appropriate tours for children from 4 years old (Mon–Fri, by registration, in costume on request). Children's birthday parties for up to 12 children are possible (€8 per child, at least €50).
ZOB Sondershausen · 500 m
From Sondershausen station on foot via August-Bebel-Straße (1.5 km), or by city bus line 1 to the ZOB (central bus station) and then about 0.5 km on foot through the palace park.
Parking available
Parking at the Landesmusikakademie (behind the Achteckhaus) and in the Galerie am Schlossberg parking garage (Lohstraße 11).
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours can be booked on request (phone 03632 622420 or email); public guided tours are currently not offered for operational reasons. A free multimedia guide with eight stations is available for the castle grounds. |
