Stadtmuseum Pforzheim

About the museum

The museum’s roots go back to 1897, when a municipal collection of antiquities was started at the suggestion of Alfons Kern. From 1924 it was displayed as the Reuchlinmuseum on the Schlossberg, until the air raid of February 23, 1945 destroyed the building. In 1952 a local history museum opened in the archive building on the Schlossberg; in 1961 it moved into the Reuchlinhaus.

Since 1974 the collection has been housed in the Brötzingen district – in the former parish church of St. Martin, which is no longer used for worship, and the neighboring Altes Schulhaus (old schoolhouse). It has been called Stadtmuseum since 1995. The listed site includes an herb garden with sculptures by Emil Salm and Ignaz Lengelacher, a barefoot path and an orchard meadow; in an old barn, a lapidarium displays boundary stones and fragments of late medieval tomb slabs.

The first floor of the Altes Schulhaus is devoted to the town’s traditional trades: fully furnished watchmaker’s and goldsmith’s workshops tell the story of the jewelry and watch industry, alongside models of tanners and raftsmen and workshops of a shoemaker, a saddler and a brush maker. The upper floor holds a replica printing press from the time of Johannes Reuchlin; special exhibitions are also held here. In the church, stations of town history from the 12th to the 20th century follow, including the Latin school, the princely wedding of 1447, plague and town fires. The upper floor recalls the destruction of Pforzheim in 1945 with a model and a small cinema. A roadworthy replica of the Benz Patent Motor Car rounds out the exhibition.

Highlights

• Completely preserved watchmaker’s and goldsmith’s workshops
• Roadworthy replica of the Benz Patent Motor Car (“Bertha-Benz-Mobil”)
• Printing press modeled on a historical original from the time of Johannes Reuchlin
• Model of the destruction of Pforzheim on February 23, 1945
• Herb garden with barefoot path, sculptures and lapidarium

Permanent exhibitions

• Handwerk und Traditionsindustrie – In the Altes Schulhaus, historical workshops of watchmakers, goldsmiths, shoemakers and saddlers, along with models of tanners and raftsmen, introduce Pforzheim’s history of trades.
• Stadtgeschichte – von der Fürstenhochzeit bis zur Zerstörung 1945 – The former parish church of St. Martin tells of key events from the 12th to the 20th century; the upper floor commemorates the air raid of February 23, 1945.

Founded

1897

Operated by

Stadt Pforzheim – Kulturamt

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

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

According to the city of Pforzheim, the museum is not accessible.

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

Herb garden with barefoot path and orchard on the museum grounds.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit