Waldmuseum Zwiesel

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to 1904, when objects documenting local history were collected in Zwiesel; a year later, they became the basis of a municipal museum. After a move to a building on the town square in the 1920s, the collection was given a new focus in 1966: the forest, forest ecology and wood took center stage, and Zwiesel gained a forest museum.

In 2014, the museum moved into the former girls' school run by the convent sisters next to the parish church of St. Nikolaus and was completely redesigned in the process. Since then, the striking brick building has also served as the town's cultural center, with event halls, a courtyard laid out as an amphitheater and a former convent chapel where civil weddings are held.

The permanent exhibition spans several floors. A primeval forest diorama with centuries-old tree trunks and animals such as bears and wolves recalls the region's former wilderness; other rooms are devoted to forest types, mushrooms and the animals of the forest edge. Glass is the second focus: the story runs from raw materials and finishing techniques to products from the region's major glassworks and the Zwiesel glass technical school. A miniature glassmakers' village carved between 1967 and 1969 is especially popular. The exhibition is rounded out by woodworking crafts, snuff bottles and changing special exhibitions such as the annual international glass art exhibition.

Highlights

• Primeval forest diorama with tree trunks up to 450 years old
• Miniature glassmakers' village by woodcarver Josef Schmidt
• Glass hall with products from the region's glassworks
• Snuff bottles made in Zwiesel
• Annual international glass art exhibition

Permanent exhibitions

• Fein Glas und gut Holz – Permanent exhibition on timber harvesting, woodworking crafts and glassmaking in the Bavarian-Bohemian Forest, with a stone hall, glass hall and miniature glassmakers' village.
• Eiszeit & Urwald – Walk-through diorama with massive tree trunks and animals that once lived in the region's primeval forest, accompanied by sounds of nature.

Operated by

Stadt Zwiesel

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the AktivCard Bayerischer Wald. No surcharge for special exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Ramp next to the entrance stairs, glass elevator to all four floors, doorways at least 90 cm wide, media stations reachable from a wheelchair; portable folding stools. Two accessible parking spaces in the courtyard. Special programs for blind and visually impaired visitors on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum advertises discoveries for young and old; the events program includes workshops and activities for the whole family. Children up to age 6 free, family ticket available.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum shop in the foyer with books, glass and wood crafts; free drinking water fountain in the foyer.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 275 guests.

Cultural center in the museum building: Large Hall (300 m², up to 275 people), Small Hall (up to approx. 130 people), courtyard as an open-air stage for up to 200 people; civil weddings in the former convent chapel. Bookings through the Kultur und Veranstaltungen department of the town of Zwiesel.

Plan your visit