Adolf Dietrich-Haus
Residence and studio house of the painter Adolf Dietrich in Berlingen, with an unchanged painting room, a documentation space and a garden on the Untersee.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Adolf Dietrich-Haus on the Seestrasse in Berlingen am Untersee is the birth, residence and death house of the Thurgau painter Adolf Dietrich (1877–1957). He lived and worked here his whole life; more than a thousand paintings were created in the living room on the second floor, which was also his dining room and guest room. Dietrich bequeathed the house and his artistic estate to the Thurgauische Kunstgesellschaft, which has since operated it as a memorial site, makes it publicly accessible, organizes events and guided tours, and regularly invites young artists to engage with the old master.
The painting room has been preserved to this day exactly as the artist left it: an unfinished picture lies on the table next to brushes and paints, and stuffed birds sit on the wall shelves, along with photographs, his accordion, his umbrella and the tear-off calendar showing the date of his death. The view from the window falls on the ornamental garden of the neighboring house, which Dietrich often painted; a garden by the lake also belongs to the house.
On the ground floor, a newly designed interpretation area opened in May 2025. An illustrated life frieze tells Dietrich's biography, two hundred art cards show his work, an actress and an actor present key works on screens, digitized sketchbooks can be leafed through on tablets, and publications invite further reading. Dietrich's original paintings are shown mainly at the Kunstmuseum Thurgau, the Museum zu Allerheiligen in Schaffhausen and the Kunst Museum Winterthur.
Highlights
- Unchanged painting room on the second floor with an unfinished picture, brushes and accordion
- Newly designed documentation space with a life frieze, art cards and a video installation
- Digitized sketchbooks to leaf through on tablets
- View of the neighbor's ornamental garden and a garden by the lake
- Guided tours, school programs and walks in the painter's footsteps
Permanent exhibition
- Malstube, Dokumentationsraum und Garten – The artist's unchanged painting room, a documentation space redesigned in 2025 with a life frieze, art cards, a video installation and digitized sketchbooks, and the garden by the lake.
- Founded
- 1959
- Operated by
- Thurgauische Kunstgesellschaft
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Walking tour “Auf den Spuren von Adolf Dietrich” (members of the Thurgauische Kunstgesellschaft) | CHF 250 |
|---|---|
| Walking tour “Auf den Spuren von Adolf Dietrich” (non-members) | CHF 300 |
| Village walk in Berlingen with a guided visit of the house (flat rate per group) | CHF 180 |
Visits during opening hours are free of charge. For school classes, the Kulturamt Thurgau covers half of the travel and visit costs.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
School trips and guided tours for school classes of all ages are offered. The website also offers ideas for creative activities (“KunstWerkStatt für Kinder”), and occasional hands-on events take place in the painting room.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Berlingen
By Thurbo line S1 to Berlingen, or by the Kreuzlingen–Schaffhausen scheduled boat of the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Untersee und Rhein to Schifflände Berlingen.
By car
Parking available
Paid parking at the train station and at the Schifflände; free parking on the Seestrasse at the western edge of the village.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours can be booked by phone or email; in the summer program, individual public guided tours take place on Sunday afternoons. Village tours of Berlingen including a visit to the house can be requested from the caretaker of the house. |
