Stadtmuseum Schongau

About the museum

The Schongau museum is among Bavaria's early local history museums: it was founded in 1891 from the holdings of the local craftsmen's guild, municipal property, and private donations and was initially housed in the Ballenhaus on Marienplatz. Before World War I operations ceased, and in the mid-1920s the collection was reorganized. At the end of the war in 1945 the holdings were looted.

In 1965 the museum reopened in a building at the Münztor but had to vacate the rooms in 1972 for school use. In the 1980s a plan emerged to use the former hospital church of St. Erasmus and the adjoining property; the two construction phases opened in 1989 and 1991, and another neighboring house has served as storage since the end of the 1990s.

After a closure in 2003, the Historischer Verein Schongau took over operations on a voluntary basis and reopened the museum in May 2004. The exhibition ranges from regional archaeological finds through sacred art and folk piety to city history with guild affairs, social and legal history; a coin cabinet shows the history of money from antiquity to today. An accessible extension complements the historic church.

Highlights

• Former hospital church of St. Erasmus as an exhibition space
• Häringer Altar, a Rococo house altar by Ignaz Günther
• Archaeological finds from the region
• Coin cabinet on the history of money
• Evidence of Schongau's guild system

Permanent exhibitions

• Archäologie – Finds from the Schongau area tell of the region's prehistory and early history over about two thousand years.
• Sakrale Kunst und Volksfrömmigkeit – In the room of the former hospital church of St. Erasmus you can see church artworks and evidence of folk piety, including the Häringer Altar.
• Stadtgeschichte und Münzkabinett – Guild affairs, social and legal history of the town as well as a coin cabinet on the development of money from antiquity to the present.

Founded

1891

Operated by

Historischer Verein Schongau Stadt und Land e. V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission for members of the Historischer Verein Schongau – Stadt und Land e. V. and holders of the Bavarian Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Step-free main entrance (double door 85 cm, 4 cm threshold, manual and heavy to open). Elevator from the basement to the third floor. Accessible restroom on the first floor. Accessible parking space in front of the restaurant Garibaldi, less than 50 m from the entrance. Display cases viewable from a seated position, large, easy-to-read labels. Certified under "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Museum backpack for children aged 8 to 11 with puzzles, crafts, and touch tasks for independent exploring. Baby changing table in the accessible restroom.

Getting there & parking

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