Städtische Fossiliensammlung

About the museum

The fossil collection of the city of Bergisch Gladbach consists of several parts that the city acquired or received as gifts over decades. Part of it goes back to the quarry owners and lime producers Theodor and Max Zimmermann. Fossils and a collection of living mussels and snails came from Wilhelm Jansen, a former senior school director (Oberstudiendirektor) in Cologne. At the end of the 1970s the Porz inventor and entrepreneur Karl Daniel bequeathed his mineral and fossil collection to the city; it shows a cross-section of Earth's history.

More recently, the roughly 90 to 100-year-old collection of the Nicolaus-Cusanus-Gymnasium, with specimens from the Devonian, Jurassic and Tertiary periods, was added, along with material from the Geological Institute of the University of Cologne. The holdings were merged, inventoried and housed in a non-public collection room at a school; a new exhibition on Earth history is planned.

The existing exhibition is in the Bürgerhaus Bergischer Löwe on Konrad-Adenauer-Platz and mainly shows fossils from the Rhenish Devonian, including sea lilies, starfish, trilobites, corals, brachiopods and snails from a sea around 400 million years old. Right in front of the building begins the Bergisch Gladbach Geopfad (geo-trail) with 17 information boards on quarries, lime kilns and natural monuments.

Highlights

• Fossils from the Rhenish Devonian: sea lilies, trilobites, corals, brachiopods
• Collections from quarry owners, private individuals and schools
• Mineral and fossil collection of Karl Daniel
• Starting point of the Bergisch Gladbach Geopfad in front of the building

Permanent exhibition

• Fossiliensammlung im Bürgerhaus Bergischer Löwe – Fossils from the Rhenish Devonian, such as sea lilies, starfish, trilobites, corals, brachiopods and snails, explained with texts, maps and sketches.

Operated by

Stadt Bergisch Gladbach

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The geo-trail begins in front of the Bürgerhaus, by the Gasthaus “Paas”.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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