Stadtmuseum Meißen

About the museum

The foundation was laid by the Verein für die Geschichte der Stadt Meißen (Association for the History of the City of Meissen): from 1892 it displayed historic gravestones in the cloister of the former Franciscan monastery that were in danger of disappearing from the old city cemetery, and collected further evidence of city history. On October 6, 1901, the association opened its antiquities museum in the former gymnasium loft of the monastery church. The monastery, founded around 1258, was dissolved after the Reformation; the hall church, consecrated in 1457, then served as a branch church, burial site, storage space, and gymnasium.

In 1931 the city took over the museum and put the city archivist Helmuth Gröger in charge. After a comprehensive redesign it opened in 1934 as the "Haus der Heimat." During World War II the collection was evacuated and suffered losses; the blowing up of the Elbe bridges in 1945 also damaged the building. From 1947 the museum, now called the Stadtmuseum, again held exhibitions, and in GDR times it was profiled as a district museum.

Because of the danger of collapse, the museum had to close in 1986. After building archaeology surveys, it was restored in three stages from 1991: in 1995 the Neo-Gothic House opened, in 1997 the cloister with its gravestones, and at the end of 1999 the monastery church. Today a tour across several open floors leads through the city's history – with city models, viticulture, Elbe fishing and shipping, Meissen porcelain and ceramics, as well as paintings and sculptures.

Highlights

• Late Gothic hall church of the former Franciscan monastery as a walk-in exhibit
• Cloister with gravestones from five centuries
• Historic city models showing the development of Meissen
• Large objects on viticulture, Elbe fishing, and Elbe shipping
• Meissen porcelain and ceramic products

Permanent exhibitions

• Ständige Ausstellung zur Stadtgeschichte – Tour across several floors of the monastery church from early city history to industrialization, with city models, viticulture, Elbe fishing and shipping, and Meissen porcelain and ceramics.
• Kreuzgang mit historischen Grabmälern – Restored grave monuments from five centuries in the preserved part of the Franciscan monastery's cloister.

Founded

1901

Operated by

Stadt Meißen

Director

Linda Karohl-Kistmacher

Admission & discounts

With the Meißner Gästekarte (guest card) there is a €1.50 discount on admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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

The museum is partially accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Conversational tour "Von Aalkorb bis Zwiebelmuster. Ein Meißen ABC" (From Eel Trap to Onion Pattern. A Meissen ABC) for families with children aged 11 and older; afterwards there is a template for the game "Stadt Land Elbe."

Getting there & parking

By car from the direction of Leipzig/Magdeburg via the A14, exit Nossen-Ost, and the B101; from the direction of Berlin via the A13, exit Radeburg; from Dresden via the B6. Meissen lies directly on the Elbe Cycle Route.

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