Vineum Bodensee

About the museum

The vineum bodensee is housed in the former Heilig-Geist-Spital (Hospital of the Holy Spirit) on Vorburggasse in Meersburg, an early Baroque listed building from the 17th century that sits on the old town wall. The hospital cared for the elderly, and winegrowing was one of its most important sources of income. The physician Franz Anton Mesmer died here in 1815.

From the 1960s, the first floor housed a winegrowing museum that focused mainly on the agricultural side of viticulture. After a conversion by Demirag Architekten, the building reopened in July 2016 as the vineum bodensee; the permanent exhibition was curated by Christine Krämer and Thomas Knubben. The museum is run by the Town of Meersburg.

Across some 600 square meters on two floors, a sensory, media-rich tour explores wine as a source of pleasure, a remedy, an economic good and a lifestyle product. At its heart is the Heilig-Geist-Torkel from 1607, one of the oldest and largest still-working wine presses in Europe, whose operation is demonstrated by an installation every half hour. Also on display are a wall of bottles from 101 wine-producing countries, scent stations with Lake Constance aromas, the Meersburg Rebstallurbar (vineyard register) from around 1700 and the Society of the 101 Citizens. Special exhibitions, concerts and cabaret take place in the roof truss space.

Highlights

• Heilig-Geist-Torkel wine press from 1607 with a media installation every half hour
• Wine bottles from 101 wine-producing countries
• Scent stations with typical aromas of Lake Constance wine
• Sips of Lake Constance wines in the vinemathek
• Historic Rebstallurbar (vineyard register) with a vineyard map from around 1700

Permanent exhibitions

• Ständige Ausstellung zur Kulturgeschichte des Weins – Interactive tour over two floors centered on the 1607 wine press – from winegrowing and the wine trade on Lake Constance to drinking rituals and wine design.

Founded

2016

Operated by

Stadt Meersburg

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Meersburger Pass. Private guided tours from €70 per group plus €6 admission per person, with wine tasting from €95. Gift vouchers at the museum ticket desk or by email.

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

Thanks to ramps and an elevator, the museum is fully wheelchair-accessible; guided tours can be joined, and tours for blind visitors are available on request. Companions with the “B” marker are admitted free.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Many stations along the tour invite visitors to join in, smell and try things out.

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

vineum store with wine accessories and design objects; sips of Lake Constance wines in the vinemathek. Coat check and restrooms on the mezzanine.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Air-conditioned event hall under the historic roof beams for seminars, workshops and conferences, with a guided tour and wine tasting on request.

Plan your visit