Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren
City museum in Kaufbeuren's old town on the history of the imperial city – with a crucifix collection, reverse glass paintings, farmhouse parlors, and a literature floor.
About the museum
The museum is one of the oldest city history museums in Bavarian Swabia: in 1879 the art dealer Willibald Filser set up a local museum in the town hall. In 1901 the city showed the exhibition "Volkskunst im Allgäu" (Folk Art in the Allgäu) with farmhouse parlors in the then winter school in the Kaisergäßchen, which stayed permanently because of its success. In 1928 a room on Ludwig Ganghofer was added, in 1934 the city history collection also moved to the Kaisergäßchen, and in 1936 the crucifix collection of the Irsee priest Richard Wiebel expanded the holdings.
Until 2002 the local history museum was run by volunteers; then it had to close for structural reasons. The city appointed a full-time director, moved the collection into a new storage facility, and had the building renovated and expanded from 2009 to 2013. On June 7, 2013, the Stadtmuseum reopened and received the Bavarian Museum Prize in the same year.
The permanent exhibition is spread over four levels: Crosses and Saints with around 300 crucifixes and Saint Crescentia, the history of the imperial city and its two denominations, the Protestant reverse glass paintings of the 18th century, the parlors of 1901, and a floor on Kaufbeuren writers such as Sophie von La Roche, Ludwig Ganghofer, and Hans Magnus Enzensberger. Interactive and media stations, audio guides, and a children's trail complement the tour.
Highlights
- Around 300 crucifixes from nine centuries, including a treasury
- Protestant reverse glass paintings from Kaufbeuren (18th century)
- Farmhouse parlors from the 1901 exhibition "Volkskunst im Allgäu"
- Literature floor on Sophie von La Roche, Ludwig Ganghofer, and Hans Magnus Enzensberger
- Children's trail as well as interactive and media stations
- Free admission on Saturdays
Permanent exhibitions
- Kreuze und Heilige – Around 300 crucifixes from different eras and materials as well as the veneration of Saint Crescentia of Kaufbeuren.
- Typisch Kaufbeuren – From an Upper Swabian imperial city to a Bavarian small town – with the textile trade, the coexistence of two denominations, and Protestant reverse glass paintings.
- Mit spitzer Feder – An entire floor on writers from Kaufbeuren, including Sophie von La Roche, Ludwig Ganghofer, and Hans Magnus Enzensberger.
- Founded
- 1879
- Operated by
- Stadt Kaufbeuren
- Director
- Petra Weber
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5 |
| Children & teens | €1free up to age 3 · Children and teenagers from 4 to 18 years: €1. |
| Groups | –Registered group tour: €40 (60 minutes) or €60 (90 minutes) plus admission, max. 15 people each. |
| Families | €12Large family ticket: parents or grandparents with their own children or grandchildren. |
| Small family ticket (one parent or grandparent with their own children/grandchildren) | €6 |
| Annual pass, adults | €18 |
| Annual pass, reduced | €15 |
| Annual pass, large family | €36 |
| Annual pass, small family | €18 |
| Open tour | €4Per person plus admission. |
| Combination ticket "Kaufbeurer Museumslandschaften" | €9One admission each within one year to the Stadtmuseum, Kunsthaus, Isergebirgs-Museum, Feuerwehrmuseum, and the interactive exhibition on the Gablonz industry (price for adults). |
Free admission: Free admission every Saturday (except tours, events, and museum education programs).
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- 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
One elevator serves all four levels. Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All) (2021): accessible for people with walking impairments, partially accessible for wheelchair users and people with visual impairments. Touch stations and tours for blind and visually impaired visitors, occasional tours in German Sign Language. Audio guides also suitable for hearing aid users; mobile seating in the exhibition.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €12 · Large family ticket: parents or grandparents with their own children or grandchildren. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
- Kids’ birthday parties
Children's trail through the permanent exhibition, interactive and media stations. Once a month a family tour for accompanied children aged about 5 to 10 (family ticket plus €3 per person, registration by the day before). Also flashlight tours, holiday studios in the museum courtyard, and children's birthday parties.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Kaufbeuren station about 1 km on foot, signposted and partly through the Jordan-Park.
By car
Parking available
Parkhaus Süd (Innere Buchleuthe); from there via Schraderstraße and about 400 m along the street Am Breiten Bach to the Kaisergäßchen. The museum is in the pedestrian zone – no parking for cars or buses directly at the building.
By car via the B12, exit Kaufbeuren, toward the city center. The walking route to the museum is signposted throughout the old town.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with postcards, gift items, books, and honey from the museum bees on the roof terrace.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Audio guides with around 50 stations free of charge at the ticket desk; in English for the "Stadtspuren" section, plus a youth audio tour with five stations. Group tours (60 or 90 minutes) only with prior registration by phone, on request also in English, Italian, and Russian. Museum education for kindergartens and school classes with its own workshop room. |
