Stadtmuseum Riesa

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Its beginnings go back to 1921, when citizens of Riesa gathered around the manufacturer and art patron Franz Xaver Hynek to form an association for a local history museum. The teacher and local historian Alfred Mirtschin became museum curator; in the very first years, hundreds of objects came together from the local population. For the 300th anniversary of the town charter, the town made a dormitory of the former artillery barracks on Poppitzer Platz available in 1923 – intended as a temporary solution, the site became the permanent home.

Over several decades, Mirtschin, as a volunteer archaeological heritage officer, built up one of Saxony's most important regional archaeological collections. Gradually the museum was given further rooms in the barracks. In 2006/07 the building complex was thoroughly renovated; since then the town museum and the town library have shared the "Haus am Poppitzer Platz", which is operated by the municipal FVG Riesa.

The permanent exhibitions on the two upper floors span the period from the Old Stone Age through the monastery founded in 1119, the later manor estate and match production to industrialisation with the railway bridge and steelworks, as well as the history of the Nazi era, the GDR and the post-reunification period. A separate hall is dedicated to the sculptor Benno Werth, who was born in Riesa, and a historic school classroom invites visitors to lessons as they were around 1900.

Highlights

• Alfred Mirtschin's archaeological collection on the settlement of the Elbe valley
• Benno Werth Hall with sculptures, paintings and graphic art
• Historic Imperial-era school classroom with demonstration lessons
• Collection of matches and lighters
• Original parts of the 1839 Elbe bridge of the Leipzig–Dresden railway

Permanent exhibitions

• Stadtgeschichte Riesa – von der Besiedlung bis zur Gegenwart – A tour across two floors: archaeological finds, monastery and manor estate, match industry, railway and steelworks, and the 20th century up to the structural change after 1990.
• Benno-Werth-Saal – Works by Benno Werth, the sculptor and urban designer born in Riesa – sculptures, paintings and graphic art from the museum's collection.
• Historische Schulklasse und Ladeneinrichtung – Imperial-era classroom from the Röderau school, where lessons are regularly held as they were over a hundred years ago.

Operated by

FVG Förder- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft für Wirtschaft, Kultur und Sport Riesa mbH

Director

Anja Hirschberg

Admission & discounts

Museum education programmes for day care centres and schools €2–2.50 per child.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Exhibition and event rooms are wheelchair accessible; passenger lift via the rear entrance to the ticket desk, hall and special exhibition on the ground floor, and to the permanent exhibitions on the 1st and 2nd floors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Children up to 16 years have free admission. For day care centres and primary schools there are playful tours, lessons as around 1900 and painting workshops; the film workshop "Geschichtenschnüffler" is aimed at children.

Getting there & parking

About 35 minutes on foot from Riesa railway station.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available

Museum café during opening hours with a house coffee roasted specially for it, tea and cold drinks; it is best to pre-order tarts and cakes.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit