Museum in Kassel's Palais Bellevue about composer, violinist and conductor Louis Spohr and Kassel's musical history – free admission.
September 3, 2026 – February 14, 2027
This temporary exhibition presents Kassel-born pianist and composer Friedrich Kalkbrenner, who enjoyed success in London and Paris, was a sought-after teacher, and invented the "Handleiter" (hand guide), a practice aid for piano students.
Louis Spohr (1784–1859) was one of the most celebrated musicians of his day: a virtuoso violinist, composer and conductor, he shaped Kassel's musical life as court music director from 1822 to 1857. The Internationale Louis Spohr Gesellschaft founded a museum in his memory in 1959, initially housed in the Murhardsche Bibliothek.
In 1977 the museum moved into the Palais Bellevue on Schöne Aussicht, a Baroque building from the early 18th century that originally served as an observatory. In 2009 it relocated to the south wing of the Kulturbahnhof, where it was redesigned with interactive stations; in 2011 it received the City of Kassel's culture prize, and in 2019 the Hessian Ministry of Culture named it "Museum of the Month." After the renovation of the Palais Bellevue, the museum returned there in September 2023 and now shares the building with the Literaturhaus Kassel and the HÖR.SPIEL Museum of the Stiftung Brückner-Kühner.
The second floor focuses on Spohr's life and work, presented through sheet music, furniture and instruments he owned, including a largely original grand piano by Johann Baptist Streicher. The third floor broadens the view to Kassel's musical history, from Heinrich Schütz and Gustav Mahler to the present day. An archive of manuscripts is open to researchers; since 2016 the society has been publishing Spohr's correspondence online with commentary.
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | –Free admission for everyone. |
|---|---|
| Groups | –Group visits also possible outside opening hours by appointment. |
Free admission, donations welcome.
According to the City of Kassel, the entrance is accessible; the Palais Bellevue was fitted with an elevator during its renovation.
Great for kids & families
Hands-on stations for children and adults (feel violin strings and woods, conduct a virtual orchestra) and regular family tours. On weekends the HÖR.SPIEL Museum on the first floor is also open.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | School classes and groups on Mondays by arrangement. The website links to a free audio guide "Musikstadt Kassel" on izi.travel. In the same building: Literaturhaus Kassel and HÖR.SPIEL Museum. |
Cookies help you use this website. We only load the map and statistics with your consent.
