November 4, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Winterwelt & Weihnachtsbräuche
Hands-on exhibition about winter customs, festivities and toys of bygone days, with loans from private collections and a children’s program.
Museum im Schweizer Hof
Museum of town and regional history in Bretten’s half-timbered Schweizer Hof from 1707, home to the German Guardian Angel Museum; free admission.
Opening hoursFree admission
Current exhibitions
February 24, 2027 – April 25, 2027
Leonardo da Vinci – Universalgenie in bewegten Zeiten
Touring exhibition from the Stadtmuseum Sachsenheim with nine interactive stations on Leonardo’s inventions and ideas.
About the museum
The Schweizer Hof is a half-timbered building from 1707/08, part of Bretten’s reconstruction after the great town fire of 1689 during the Nine Years’ War (War of the Palatine Succession). Its cellars survive from an earlier tithe house of Frauenalb Abbey that was destroyed. For more than 250 years the building served as an inn, at times with its own brewery and distillery.
After the building had fallen into increasing disrepair, the town of Bretten bought it in 1996. From 1997 to 2001 the citizens’ initiative Brettener Heimat- und Denkmalpflege restored it with some 36,000 hours of volunteer work; today it is considered one of the finest half-timbered houses in the region. In June 2002 the municipal museum opened inside, and in 2007 it received an award as an exemplary local history museum.
In October 2007 the German Guardian Angel Museum (Deutsches Schutzengelmuseum) was added on the fourth floor; by its own account it is the only institution of its kind in Germany, and it was completely redesigned in 2021. Its collection covers depictions of guardian angels from six centuries, ranging from prints, paintings and icons to porcelain and wooden figures. On the second and third floors the museum regularly presents changing special exhibitions on the history, art and culture of the town and region, often with an accompanying program for children.
Highlights
- Half-timbered house from 1707, restored by volunteers
- German Guardian Angel Museum with depictions of angels from six centuries
- Changing special exhibitions on local and cultural history
- Craft workshops and children’s tours as part of the accompanying program
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Deutsches Schutzengelmuseum – On the fourth floor: a collection of guardian angel depictions from six centuries in prints, paintings, icons and figures, redesigned in 2021.
- Founded
- 2002
- Operated by
- Stadt Bretten
- Director
- Linda Brunner-Obhof (Museumsleitung)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission; children’s workshops and tours in the accompanying program cost €3–5 (registration through the tourist information office).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: not available
- 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
There are no accessible parking spaces directly at the museum; you will find them on the Marktplatz, at the Sporgassen-Areal and by the Rathaus (town hall).
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The special exhibitions come with an accompanying program for children, such as craft workshops, a flashlight tour (ages 6–11) and a St. Nicholas Day at the museum.
Getting there & parking
By car
Accessible parking spaces on the Marktplatz, at the Sporgassen-Areal and by the Rathaus.
- Accessible parking: not available
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Special tours for groups of 10 or more on request from the Tourist-Info Bretten (Melanchthonstr. 3, tel. 07252 583710). |
