Werratalmuseum Gerstungen

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Werratalmuseum was set up in 1932 in the rooms of Gerstungen's old administrative palace. The driving force was the teacher Arno Volland, who first gathered teaching materials for his lessons, researched the prehistory and early history of the area and collected everyday objects from rural life. He headed the museum as its first director.

The permanent exhibition spans two floors of the palace. A geology section explains how the Werra landscape formed and honors the Gerstungen-born geologist Friedrich Moritz Stapff, who played a key role in building the Gotthard Tunnel. Finds from the Neolithic period and from Iron Age settlements document the long history of settlement in the Gerstungen Basin. In a wing that once served as a courthouse, detention cells have been reconstructed.

Crafts and folk culture take up a large share of the space: guild chests and craft books from the 17th century, tools for processing flax, and a re-created farmhouse parlor and kitchen. The collection of colorful Werra pottery is particularly extensive and has been shown in redesigned rooms since 2014. Local history includes the peasant uprisings of the 16th century, the potash industry and the border railroad station. In 2011, the museum was one of five museums in a University of Oldenburg research project on new approaches to local museum work. It is run by the municipality of Gerstungen.

Highlights

• Extensive collection of colorful Werra pottery
• Guild chests and craft books from the 17th century
• Re-created farmhouse parlor and kitchen
• Geology of the Werra floodplain and Gotthard geologist F. M. Stapff
• History of the Gerstungen border railroad station

Permanent exhibitions

• Werrakeramik – Brightly painted rural pottery from the region – everyday tableware, commemorative plates and toys – with explanations of how it was made and decorated.
• Region und Ortsgeschichte – Geology of the Werra floodplain, prehistoric and early historic finds, crafts, rural living, and the potash and railroad history of Gerstungen.

Founded

1932

Operated by

Gemeinde Gerstungen

Admission & discounts

Guided tours: 60 min. €40, 90 min. €60 (max. 30 people each), plus admission; party with guided tour (180 min.) €120. Different prices may apply to special exhibitions.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's birthday parties (120 min., 6 to a maximum of 12 children) with the themes prehistory and early history, the Middle Ages, or fairy tales. An explorer booklet that families can use to explore the museum playfully is in preparation.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & 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