Stadtmuseum Düren
Volunteer-run museum on the history of Düren with changing themed exhibitions, a memorial room for November 16, 1944 and free admission.
About the museum
The impetus came in 2008 from a temporary exhibition by the Dürener Geschichtswerkstatt on the 1950s, which met with great response in the town. From it grew the initiative for a town history museum of its own; in March 2009 the sponsoring association Trägerverein Stadtmuseum Düren e.V. was founded under the chairmanship of the then mayor.
The museum is housed in rooms on Arnoldsweilerstraße that were provided by the Sparkasse Düren and had previously served as a bank's drive-up counter. Still in 2009, the first exhibition opened, on the period from 747 to 1814. The concept provides for working through the town's history step by step in sections – from early settlement through the Carolingian palace, the market and cloth town and the cult of St. Anne to industrialization and the destruction in the Second World War.
Changing themed exhibitions are shown, complemented by a permanent memorial room for the air raid of November 16, 1944. The museum is largely run by volunteers, publishes the magazine "Spuren", operates an online collection database and offers city tours, lectures, genealogy advice and children's programs.
Highlights
- Memorial room for the destruction of Düren on November 16, 1944
- Changing exhibitions on town history
- Free public tour on the last Sunday of the month
- Themed city tours and city rallies
- Virtual 3D tour
Permanent exhibitions
- Gedenkraum 16. November 1944 – Permanent room on the destruction of Düren in the air raid of November 1944.
- Founded
- 2009
- Operated by
- Trägerverein Stadtmuseum Düren e.V.
- Director
- Dr. Anne Krings
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|---|
| Groups | –Private tours €75 per group of up to 20 people; free for school classes and day care groups in the museum. |
| Package of private tour and coffee table (up to 20 people, approx. 3 hrs.) | €300flat rate; on Sundays only with a city tour |
Free admission, donations welcome. City tours, city rallies and geocaching for children's groups €1 per child (minimum €30).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Touch tours for blind and visually impaired people in small groups by arrangement.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Holiday programs (e.g. pumpkin carving, baking Weckmänner), "HistoLab für kids", a cultural license for day care children as well as hands-on stations and a city rally (ages 8 and up) for children's and school groups.
Getting there & parking
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
On Arnoldsweilerstraße, during the day mostly residents-only parking. On Sundays, free parking at the south side of the station; a paid parking garage is about a 5-minute walk away.
Side entrance for events on Cranachstraße.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
Up to 20 guests.
Celebrations (birthdays, family parties, class reunions) for up to 20 people in the event room on the second floor, only in connection with a tour.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Public tour on the last Sunday of the month from 11:00 to 12:00 (free). Please request private tours (approx. 1–1.5 hrs.) and city tours up to three weeks in advance with two to three suggested dates. A virtual 3D tour is available online. |
