Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Musäum (a playful spelling of "Museum") was founded by painter Hannes König, who, with the help of artist friends and donations from Munich citizens, set up an exhibition on Karl Valentin in the south tower of the war-damaged Isartor. It opened on September 17, 1959 – the invitation sent out was a brick weighing about a kilogram. Modeled on Valentin's own Ritterspelunke, the museum combined exhibition, tavern, and cabaret from the very beginning.

When the Isartor was restored in the early 1970s, rooms in the north tower were added, connected to the south tower by a narrow battlement walkway. After König's death in 1989, his partner Gudrun Köhl continued running the museum; at her urging, Liesl Karlstadt was given her own section, and the museum has borne the names of both artists ever since. Sabine Rinberger has directed the Musäum since 2004; it was privately run until the end of 2017 and has been a museum of the City of Munich since 2018.

From December 2024 to July 2026, the Isartor had to be completely vacated for fire safety work and new district heating pipes. The break was used to completely redesign the Liesl Karlstadt exhibition and to revise the sections on Valentin and on Munich's folk singers. The museum reopened on July 10, 2026; however, the rooms are still reachable only by a spiral staircase.

Highlights

• Around 500 objects on Karl Valentin, including original props and curiosities such as the winter toothpick
• Redesigned exhibition "Liesl Karlstadt – Flug zum Mond"
• Musäum cinema with films by Valentin and Karlstadt
• Folk singers exhibition in the north tower, reached via the battlement walkway
• Café Turmstüberl with Thonet chairs from Schwabing's Café Stefanie

Permanent exhibitions

• Karl Valentin – Revised permanent exhibition with around 500 objects, dioramas, audio and film documents, and new loans of original stage props from Valentin's estate.
• Liesl Karlstadt – Flug zum Mond – Newly designed exhibition on the third floor about the life and career of Valentin's stage partner, with film and listening stations and the integrated Musäum cinema.
• An jedem Eck a Gaudi – Münchner Volkssängerinnen und Volkssänger – The exhibition in the north tower tells the story of entertainment culture in Munich's suburbs around 1900 and flags problematic stereotypes with critical notes.

Founded

1959

Operated by

Landeshauptstadt München

Director

Sabine Rinberger

Admission & discounts

Prices valid since the reopening on July 10, 2026.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• 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

The exhibition rooms and café can only be reached via a spiral staircase in the Isartor; no elevator was installed during the renovation either. Further information is available on the "Kultur barrierefrei München" portal.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available

Free admission up to age 18. The exhibition rooms and café can only be reached via a spiral staircase; there is no elevator.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Turmstüberl under the roof of the south tower with a view of the Tal street (reservations tel. 089 293762 or turmstueberl@live.de); museum shop with books on Valentin and Karlstadt.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit