Stralsund Museum
The oldest museum in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in Stralsund's St. Catherine's Monastery, home to the Hiddensee Viking gold – closed for renovation, reopening from March 2027.
About the museum
The museum was founded in 1859 on the initiative of the Stralsund lawyer and historian Rudolf Baier as the provincial museum for Western Pomerania and Rügen, and was initially housed in a few rooms of the town hall. It is considered the oldest museum of its kind in today's Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. From 1921, the city provided rooms in the former Dominican monastery of St. Catherine (Katharinenkloster), where the exhibition opened in 1925.
Founded in the 13th century, the monastery is regarded as the largest late Gothic monastic complex in the southern Baltic region; its cloisters and two refectories define the building. In the following decades, the museum grew to include folk-life departments, a toy collection, and additional space. Long known as the Kulturhistorisches Museum Stralsund, it has been called Stralsund Museum since 2015. The monastery church is now used by the Meeresmuseum.
With around 450,000 objects, the museum holds the largest cultural-history collection in the state – from archaeological finds such as the Viking-age Hiddensee gold jewelry and the Peenemünde arm rings, to testimonies of the Hanseatic and Swedish eras, to art, naval history, and folk life. The main site in the Katharinenkloster is closed for a comprehensive renovation and a new permanent exhibition covering around 1,700 square meters. Due to construction delays, only a brief partial opening is planned for the 2026 Christmas season; the new permanent exhibition is scheduled to open from March 2027. After that, the monastery courtyard and cloisters are also to be accessible without a museum ticket.
Highlights
- Viking-age Hiddensee gold jewelry (shown in the original after reopening)
- Peenemünde arm rings and Langendorf gold bowls
- Venetian glass goblet from the Hanseatic era
- Cloisters and refectories of the Gothic St. Catherine's Monastery
Permanent exhibitions
- Neue Dauerausstellung im Katharinenkloster – The new, accessible permanent exhibition (expected from March 2027) alternates between themed rooms and focus rooms and presents showpieces such as the Hiddensee gold jewelry in their own dedicated setting.
- Founded
- 1859
- Operated by
- Hansestadt Stralsund
- Director
- Maren Heun
Admission & discounts
Prices for the Katharinenkloster after the reopening have not yet been published. Currently: Museumshaus €5 (reduced €2.50, family €14), Marinemuseum €6 (reduced €3, family €14), combination ticket for both (May 1 – October 31, valid for 2 days) €8 (reduced €4, family €18); annual pass €50 (reduced €25, family €120). Reduced rates apply to, among others, children and young people aged 6 to 18. Guided tour fee €35 (reduced €20).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Holiday programs for families with children (e.g., historical city walk with treasure hunt) as well as for daycare and after-school groups.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Knieperwall bzw. Busbahnhof
About a ten-minute walk from Stralsund Hauptbahnhof (main station), or one stop by bus to Knieperwall or the bus station (including lines 1 and 30).
By car
Parking available
Parking garage "Am Meeresmuseum," parking garage "Am Neuen Markt," or Neuer Markt parking lot. Tour buses at the ZOB (Weidendamm) or limited spaces at Theater Vorpommern.
By car via the A 20 and the Rügenzubringer B 96n to the Altstadt/Franken exit.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
