Wortreich in Bad Hersfeld
Interactive experience exhibition on language and communication in Bad Hersfeld, with more than 90 hands-on stations on about 1,200 square meters.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The wortreich exhibition opened in 2011 on the grounds of the former Benno Schilde machine factory in the middle of Bad Hersfeld. After the industrial company gave up its site in 2010, the town looked for a new use for the area. Planning for a knowledge and experience world began in 2008; in 2009, demolition and restoration of the historic halls began, during which the long-built-over river Geis was partly uncovered.
The theme of language and communication builds on personalities and traditions of the town: Konrad Duden published his spelling dictionary while he was headmaster of the grammar school in Bad Hersfeld; Konrad Zuse built made-to-order computers here with his company from 1957; and the Bad Hersfeld Festival (Bad Hersfelder Festspiele) stands for theater. The Brothers Grimm, as collectors of fairy tales and language, also belong to the thematic framework.
The exhibition is laid out like a walk-through book in eleven chapters. Visitors follow a red thread through more than 90 hands-on exhibits and try out language, misunderstandings, teamwork or role play for themselves. The house is operated by the non-profit wortreich in Bad Hersfeld gGmbH; the rooms are also used as a venue for conferences and events.
Highlights
- More than 90 hands-on exhibits on about 1,200 m²
- Walk-through book in eleven chapters
- Theater karaoke on a small-scale festival stage
- Mindball: moving a ball using only the power of thought
- Labels in German, English and Braille
Permanent exhibition
- Erlebnisausstellung „wortreich“ – Across more than 1,200 square meters in eleven chapters, visitors experience at more than 90 stations how language and communication work, from word basketball to the theater stage.
- Founded
- 2011
- Operated by
- wortreich in Bad Hersfeld gGmbH
- Director
- Christian Scholz
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Children aged 6 to 17, pupils, trainees, students, people with a degree of disability (GdB) of 70 or more |
| Children & teens | €7free up to age 5 · Children aged 6 to 17 pay the reduced price. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €7People with a degree of disability (GdB) of 70 or more |
| Students & apprentices | €7Pupils, trainees and students |
| Groups (15+ people) | €9 per personFrom 15 people with registration; reduced €6. |
| Families | €29Parents or grandparents with up to three of their own children or grandchildren (ages 6 to 17); €3 for each additional child. |
| Annual pass, adults | €26Valid on all opening days |
| Annual pass, reduced | €18 |
| Taster ticket (Tue–Fri from 16:00) | €4Adults and reduced |
| Each additional child on the family ticket | €3 |
People celebrating their birthday (including adults) have free admission on the day of their birthday (proof required). With the admission ticket, the turnstile can be passed up to three times, so the tour can be interrupted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The three floors are connected by a lift; between chapters 4 and 5 a stair lift covers a few steps. Accessible toilet at the entrance. Awarded the "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All) label in 2020. Exhibits are labeled in German, English and Braille; guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed, other animals are not.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €29 · Parents or grandparents with up to three of their own children or grandchildren (ages 6 to 17); €3 for each additional child. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Hands-on exhibition for all age groups, with holiday programs and children's birthday parties (up to 15 children, approx. 1.5 hours, programs depending on age from age 6; the birthday child and one accompanying adult are free). Children receive a key ring on presentation of the FamilienApp Hessen.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bahnhof Bad Hersfeld · 10-min walk
On foot from Bad Hersfeld station via Bahnhofstraße and Friedloser Straße.
By car
Paid parking
Schilde-Park car park (Seilerweg 2) with 180 spaces: €1 per hour, day ticket at most €5. Free bus parking on Seilerweg, including for motorhomes; bus lay-by directly at the Schilde-Park.
Navigation address for cars: Seilerweg 2. For coaches, the lay-by is at Benno-Schilde-Str. 21. From the town center, walk along Benno-Schilde-Straße to the Schilde-Park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Drinks and sweets are sold at the shop at the till; tables are available in the foyer. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the exhibition. Restaurants in the nearby town center. Lockers take 50-cent or €1 coins; bags and backpacks may not be taken into the exhibition.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Up to 300 guests.
Conference and seminar rooms (Benno-Schilde-Raum up to 90, Bad Hersfeld-Loft up to 300, Konrad-Duden-Studio up to 30, Konrad-Zuse-Studio up to 24 people); the exhibition can also be booked exclusively for groups outside opening hours.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Private photos are allowed; commercial and journalistic use requires registration. |
| Good to know | Some exhibits require headphones with a 3.5 mm jack plug: bring your own or buy them at the till. Public guided tour on the last Friday of every month at 14:00 (approx. 1.5 hours, free of charge in addition to admission, registration requested). Visitors plan on average two to three hours. Group tours, workshops and school trip programs can be booked. |
