Städtisches Museum Braunschweig

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The impetus came from the city's millennium celebrations: in 1859, the historian Carl Schiller founded a collectors' society, whose holdings became the Städtisches Museum (municipal museum) in 1861. The collection was initially housed in the Neustadtrathaus (New Town Hall) but quickly outgrew the rooms.

Between 1904 and 1906, a dedicated museum building designed by Max Osterloh was built on the Löwenwall, largely funded by donations from Braunschweig citizens. The Art Nouveau building with its large atrium, round arches and murals is still the main site today. Since 1991, the museum has also presented the city's history in the medieval Altstadtrathaus (Old Town Hall); an exhibition on industrial history was later added in the Gaußsaal.

With more than 270,000 objects, it is one of the large municipal museums of art and cultural history. Its focal points are 19th-century painting and prints, Braunschweig decorative arts such as porcelain, faience and Stobwasser lacquerware, an important collection of musical instruments associated with the Steinweg piano-making family, coins and medals, and an extensive ethnological collection.

For years, the museum has been researching the origins of its ethnological holdings, including in the joint project PAESE and in dialogue with communities of origin; the permanent exhibition on this topic has been redesigned. Peter Joch has directed the museum since 2017.

Highlights

• Paintings by Carl Spitzweg and Max Klinger's sculpture "Kassandra"
• Steinweg grand piano played by Clara Schumann, plus other historic musical instruments
• Ethnological permanent exhibition "Am Anfang war der Gurt" on the origins of the collection
• Art Nouveau atrium of the building on the Löwenwall
• City history in the vaults of the medieval Altstadtrathaus (free admission)

Permanent exhibitions

• Dauerausstellung Haus am Löwenwall – Paintings, religious art, decorative arts, historic musical instruments and the Dexel design collection (Formsammlung Dexel) in the Art Nouveau building on the Löwenwall.
• Am Anfang war der Gurt – Redesigned ethnological exhibition in five themed rooms about Braunschweig collectors, souvenirs, images of the "other" and colonial legacy, developed in dialogue with communities of origin.
• Stadtgeschichte und „Mensch, Maschine!“ im Altstadtrathaus – Braunschweig from Hanseatic town to royal residence to industrial city, with pieces ranging from the era of Henry the Lion to the Rollei camera; free admission.

Founded

1861

Operated by

Stadt Braunschweig

Director

Dr. Peter Joch

Admission & discounts

Prices for the building on the Löwenwall; admission to the Altstadtrathaus is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

According to the Museumsverband Niedersachsen-Bremen (regional museum association), wheelchair-accessible with an elevator.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Audio guide made by children for children on the musical instrument collection; workshops for children (registration required, one accompanying adult per child possible).

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Exhibition and collection catalogs available at the museum.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit