Vonderau Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum dates back to 1875, when cathedral canon Konrad Hahne donated his private collection to the city of Fulda. Initially called the “Städtisches Museum” (Municipal Museum), it was first housed in the Heilig-Geist-Hospital, soon moved to the Frauenberg and in 1884 to the north wing of the former Papal Seminary, which was then being converted into the town school. In 1930 the collection moved to the Stadtschloss (city palace), and parts returned to the town school in 1968. The museum is named after teacher and local historian Joseph Vonderau, who made numerous prehistoric finds during excavations and ran the collection as a volunteer for many years.

From the mid-1980s, the former town school – a Baroque four-winged building of the onetime Jesuit college and Papal Seminary on Jesuitenplatz – was converted into the regional museum and opened in March 1994. Part of the holdings – paintings, furniture and Fulda porcelain – can still be seen in the Historische Räume (historic rooms) of the Stadtschloss.

The permanent exhibition is divided into three sections: cultural history ranges from Neolithic and Celtic finds, for example from the Milseburg, through the monastery and prince-bishopric to middle-class living rooms, crafts and industry. Natural history presents fossils and the typical habitats of East Hesse in life-size dioramas, while the painting and sculpture section shows works by regional artists from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. There is also a lapidarium, a small planetarium with 35 seats and regular special exhibitions. The museum is one of Fulda's municipal museums and is working on a new concept for its permanent exhibitions.

Highlights

• Life-size dioramas of East Hesse's habitats
• Celtic finds from the Milseburg and other prehistoric archaeological finds
• Reconstructed living rooms from the 18th to the 20th century
• Fuldamobil microcar and products of Fulda's industry
• Planetarium with fulldome projection
• Lapidarium with funerary monuments and architectural sculpture

Permanent exhibitions

• Kulturgeschichte – From prehistoric archaeological finds through the monastery and prince-bishopric to the middle-class living rooms, crafts and industry of the city of Fulda.
• Naturkunde – Fossils from East Hesse's geological past and life-size dioramas of rivers and lakes, moors, forest, farmland and settlements.
• Malerei & Skulptur – Works by artists from Fulda and the surrounding area from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, complemented by a lapidarium.

Founded

1875

Operated by

Stadt Fulda

Director

Frank Verse

Admission & discounts

Free admission: first Sunday of every month

Admission to the entire permanent exhibition €3.50, reduced €2.30; individual sections cost less. Special exhibitions are sometimes included in museum admission. Planetarium: special shows for groups of up to 34 people from €45.

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

Entrance through the building's passageway at the corner of Jesuitenplatz and Universitätsstraße; all floors accessible by elevator, the chapel via a stairlift (Euroschlüssel/Euro key). The planetarium can only be reached via steps. The audio guide is also suitable for visually impaired visitors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Museum rallies for children aged 8 to 12, an animal quiz via app (tablets can be borrowed at the ticket desk) and six explorer stations on native animals with magnifying glass, microscope and track stamps in the natural history section; planetarium shows for children too.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A7 (exit Fulda-Nord or Fulda-Mitte) or the A66/B27, then continue via Petersberger Straße and Rabanusstraße.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with exhibition catalogs at the ticket desk.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit