Stadtmuseum Michelstadt

About the museum

The museum's origins go back to 1910, when a museum association in Michelstadt came together to found a local heritage museum. As the Odenwald Museum, and later the Odenwald and Toy Museum, it showed regional and town history for decades: crafts, pewter and pottery, hunting weapons, a room for the book illustrator Fritz Kredel, as well as dolls and wooden and paper toys. Under the roof, a model railway was set up that recreates the Odenwald Railway.

The museum is housed in a storehouse building of the Kellerei. The complex grew out of the medieval Michelstadt castle, which was remodeled from 1517 with new residential and administration buildings, and was first called "Kellerei" in the 16th century. The ensemble lies a few steps from the market square.

Since 2016 the museum has been rebuilt in content and design as a modern city museum; in 2019 the first newly designed area opened. Today several sections guide visitors through the town's history: a city model from 1750 illustrates the medieval development of the town; a separate section is devoted to Einhard and his basilica in Steinbach; on the second floor four influential personalities are presented; and on the third floor the topics are wood, iron and textiles, as well as social history up to the renovation of the old town. The model railway under the roof is looked after by a club of volunteers.

Highlights

• City model of 1750 showing the medieval development of Michelstadt
• Section on Einhard and the Einhard Basilica in Steinbach
• Life stories of Nicolaus Matz, Seckel Löb Wormser, Fritz Kredel and Eun Nim Ro
• Economic history of wood, iron and textiles
• Model railway layout on the top floor

Permanent exhibitions

• Michelstadt im Wandel der Zeit – City history from the Middle Ages and the early modern period, with the city model of 1750 and a section on Einhard and his basilica.
• TextZeichen … BildFigur. Vier Lebenswege – Four personalities closely connected with Michelstadt, linked by writing, paper and signs: Nicolaus Matz, Seckel Löb Wormser, Fritz Kredel and Eun Nim Ro.
• Holz, Eisen, Textil – Leben und Arbeit – The town's most important branches of the economy, as well as topics from the County of Erbach through 19th-century social history to the renovation of the old town.

Founded

1910

Operated by

Stadt Michelstadt

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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

Historic storehouse building extending over several floors; not barrier-free.

Kids & families

Children and young people up to age 18 pay no admission. The model railway on the top floor is accessible on Saturdays.

Getting there & parking

Navigation: Einhardspforte 3, 64720 Michelstadt. The old town is traffic-calmed.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit