Stadtmuseum Zweibrücken

About the museum

The idea of a Zweibrücken local history museum was conceived in 1913 by the local historian Albert Becker; the Historischer Verein der Mediomatriker (historical society) then began to build a collection. After the interruption caused by World War I, the museum opened on April 18, 1926 in the Spitalturm behind the Alexanderskirche. In the air raid of March 14, 1945, it was lost along with the old town.

From 1948, the lawyer Max Schuler collected salvaged rubble finds and new exhibits on behalf of the French military government, which were temporarily stored in the Villa Frölich from 1957. In 1960, Gertrud von Kraußer donated the Petrihaus to the city on condition that a museum be established there. The house in the Herzogvorstadt had been built in 1768 by the court gardener Ernst August Bernhard Petri – one of the few privately built houses in the baroque district planned by Duke Christian IV. On October 28, 1961, the city's local history museum opened there.

After a friends' association was founded in 1993 and a professional staff member was hired for the first time, the Petrihaus closed for inventory and renovation. From 2004 to 2006, it was thoroughly restored and modernized under heritage conservation supervision and has been accessible ever since.

The permanent exhibition tells the history of the Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrücken from 1410 to 1793, shows works by the court painters of the 18th century and 74 of the only around 230 surviving pieces of the rare Zweibrücken porcelain worldwide. Other topics include the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, the democratic tradition in the Westrich, and media history. Changing exhibitions on art and cultural history topics complement the offering; in 2026 the museum celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Highlights

• Zweibrücken porcelain from the manufactory, 1767 to 1775
• Works by the court painters of Palatinate-Zweibrücken
• Baroque Petrihaus of 1768 in the Herzogvorstadt
• "Schau!Platz Freiheit" on the democratic tradition in the Westrich
• Virtual 360° tour

Permanent exhibitions

• Das barocke Zweibrücken – Art and culture at the court of the dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken in the 18th century, with paintings by the court painters and pieces from the short-lived Zweibrücken porcelain manufactory.
• Das Herzogtum Pfalz-Zweibrücken (1410–1793) – Origins, territory, and end of the Wittelsbach duchy up to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era.
• Schau!Platz Freiheit – Demokratische Tradition im Westrich – Section on the democratic tradition in the Westrich.

Founded

1926

Operated by

Stadt Zweibrücken

Director

Dr. Aline Maldener

Admission & discounts

School classes pay €1.50 per student, with a guided tour €2.50 per student (admission included). Special exhibitions have their own prices.

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

Accessible entrance only via the entrance at the Uhlandstraße parking lot; exhibition rooms accessible by elevator, accessible restroom in the building.

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with catalogs and books on city and regional history.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit