Stadtmuseum Güstrow

About the museum

The Güstrow city museum opened on April 30, 1892. Its core was formed by the holdings of the Art and Antiquities Society, founded two years earlier, which grew quickly through donations and targeted purchases. Over the following decades the museum moved several times – from the billiard room of the Wallhotel to the former court and regional court on Domplatz and finally to a former horse stable on the Wall.

From 1955 the museum had a full-time director and, for the first time, a permanent exhibition on the city's history. At times it also ran branch sites, including the Barlach memorial in the Gertrudenkapelle, windmill museums, and the birthplace of the painter Georg Friedrich Kersting. From 1953 to 2003 the collection was housed in the town house at Franz-Parr-Platz 7.

Since October 2003 the museum has used the Neoclassical building at Franz-Parr-Platz 10, which opened in 1926 as the hospital of the regional workhouse in the palace. On roughly 500 square meters, the exhibition traces Güstrow's development from the founding of the town to the 20th century; the section on the 20th century was added in 2013. Since 2009 the entrance area has also housed the Güstrow Information office.

The collection comprises more than 100,000 objects. Highlights include paintings and drawings by Kersting, works by Expressionists such as Christian Rohlfs, Erich Heckel, and Helmuth Macke, the estate of the painter and restorer Otto Vermehren, and an extensive collection of historical theater playbills.

Highlights

• Paintings and drawings by the Romantic painter Georg Friedrich Kersting
• Expressionists: Christian Rohlfs, Erich Heckel, Helmuth Macke
• Flag installation on the Mecklenburg Volunteer Riflemen of 1813/14
• Estate of the painter and Uffizi restorer Otto Vermehren
• Multimedia section on the 20th century

Permanent exhibitions

• Stadt & Residenz Güstrow – Chronological tour from the medieval founding of the town through the residence period and the Wars of Liberation to the 20th century, with artworks by Kersting, Vermehren, and Expressionists.

Founded

1892

Operated by

Barlachstadt Güstrow

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Accessibility

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

Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All): accessible for people with walking impairments, partially accessible for wheelchair users and people with visual impairments. Step-free access, elevator (cabin 109 × 147 cm), doors mostly at least 90 cm wide, exhibits mostly viewable from a seated position. Two accessible parking spaces, accessible restroom on the first floor. Tours for visitors with walking impairments and wheelchair users by registration.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

There is a separate museum guide for children as well as museum education programs on the permanent exhibition for children and young people of all ages.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located right next to Güstrow Palace.

Amenities & dining

The Güstrow Information office (tourist information) is located in the entrance area.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit