Stadtmuseum Schwabach

About the museum

The Stadtmuseum Schwabach moved into its current premises in O'Brien Park in 1994. The main building was built in 1935 as the headquarters building of a Wehrmacht barracks; after 1945 it was used by the US armed forces until the garrison withdrew in 1992. The city then converted the building into a museum.

In 2009 an extension by the Nuremberg firm Niederwöhrmeier + Kief was added, recognizable by its Corten-steel elevator tower and copper-clad exhibition hall. Since then, the displays have been spread across four main departments, each on its own floor.

The focus is on Schwabach as a town of goldbeaters and metalworkers: gold leaf has been beaten here since the 16th century, alongside the production of screws, springs, wire, needles, and nails. The craft is demonstrated in a gilded walk-in show workshop. A second department displays more than 10,000 eggs – from artistically decorated pieces and a Fabergé peace egg to Carl Wenglein's natural history collection of bird eggs and nests.

The city history section extends to the era of the American garrison and also includes holdings on the composer Adolph Henselt and the Ribot soap factory. In addition, the museum presents around 2,500 toys and model trains by the Franconian manufacturer Fleischmann across roughly 800 square meters.

Highlights

• Walk-in "Goldbox" with goldbeating demonstrations
• More than 10,000 eggs, including a Fabergé peace egg
• Wenglein natural history collection of eggs and nests
• Around 2,500 toys and model trains by Fleischmann
• Redesigned city history department

Permanent exhibitions

• Goldschläger- und Metallerstadt Schwabach – Shows how gold is turned into wafer-thin gold leaf and introduces other Schwabach metal trades such as wire, needle, and screw making. At its heart is the gilded show workshop.
• Weltreise rund ums Ei – More than 10,000 eggs from crafts, folk traditions, and natural history, from a Fabergé egg to the Wenglein bird egg collection.
• Eine Zeitreise mit Fleischmann – Toys and model railways by the long-established Franconian manufacturer Fleischmann, across around 800 square meters.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Stadt Schwabach

Admission & discounts

Free admission for school classes, youth groups, and holders of the Schwabach-Pass and the Bavarian Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card).

Accessibility

• Partially 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

Step-free entrance, accessible restroom, and seating available; according to the Bavarian museum portal, the building is not considered fully accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Activity programs and birthday parties (90–120 minutes), including gilding for children ages 3–7, treasure hunt and museum mystery for ages 7 and up; open children's tours in the gold department and family activities such as a Halloween spooky scavenger hunt. Family pass €10, children up to age 5 free.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in O'Brien-Park in the north of the city; the visitor entrance is on Dr.-Haas-Straße.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café and museum shop;

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit