Historisches Museum Thurgau

About the museum

The foundation of the Cultural History Collection was laid in the 19th century by the canton of Thurgau and the Historical Society: monastic property from the time of the dissolution of the monasteries went to the society, which collected and preserved it. Between the 1920s and 1960, responsibility lay with the Thurgau Museum Society. In 1958 the historical collection moved into Frauenfeld Castle, and in 1960 the canton took over the museum and collection with the founding of the Historical Museum Thurgau.

Frauenfeld Castle goes back to a fortress of glacial stone built around 1230 on the Murg, into which a Kyburg bailiff later moved. Today's castle exhibition uses audio figures, sounds and light effects to stage the period between the Council of Constance in 1414 and the Reformation in 1517, when Thurgau stood between Swabia and the Confederation.

The St. Katharinental open storage facility in Diessenhofen grew out of the idea of a farming and village museum for the Tobel penal institution, closed in 1973. After this project failed in a popular vote in 1991, the folk-culture collection has been shown since 1997 in the former granary of St. Katharinental convent and has since been extended several times, most recently in 2023 with the largest historical wooden barrel in Switzerland. In the Old Arsenal in Frauenfeld, the museum shows changing exhibitions on social themes.

Highlights

• Castle exhibition on the late Middle Ages with audio figures and heraldic glass panes
• St. Katharinental open storage: over 12,000 originals without display-case glass
• Largest historical wine barrel in Switzerland
• Audio and multimedia guides "Ach, du Scheibe!" and "Steine versetzen"
• Free admission to the castle and the Old Arsenal

Permanent exhibitions

• Schlossausstellung Schloss Frauenfeld – The exhibition brings the late Middle Ages between the Council of Constance in 1414 and the Reformation in 1517 to life with dialogues between four fictional castle characters, sounds and light effects.
• Schaudepot St. Katharinental – Across 2,700 square metres, the open storage facility shows over 12,000 original objects from agriculture, viticulture, transport, crafts and the household without display-case glass, exclusively as part of a guided tour.

Founded

1960

Operated by

Kanton Thurgau

Director

Noemi Bearth

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to Frauenfeld Castle and the Old Arsenal is free. Those travelling to Diessenhofen by boat receive a CHF 20 discount on the tour of the open storage facility.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Frauenfeld Castle is not wheelchair accessible. The Old Arsenal is accessible without barriers, and at the St. Katharinental open storage facility the ground floor and first floor are wheelchair accessible. Some events are translated into sign language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Families explore the castle on their own with the Leuli Trail (ages 4 and up), the puzzle card set "Kati und Sven" and a digital scavenger hunt (each ages 9 and up). Knight birthdays at the castle and detective birthdays at the open storage facility. Also events in the joint programme "Museum für Kinder".

Getting there & parking

By car 30 minutes from Zurich (A1/A7, exit Frauenfeld-West) or 20 minutes from Constance (A7, exit Frauenfeld-Ost), each towards the centre. The open storage facility has its own boat landing stage in Diessenhofen.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with Thurgau specialities, literature, gift ideas, non-fiction and children's books and knight toys; for special exhibitions there is a special shop in the Old Arsenal. Near the open storage facility, about a two-minute walk away, is CAFE KATHARINA am Rhein.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Birthdays and events for adults as well as free ceremonies at Frauenfeld Castle (no civil weddings); on request the castle coach house with a festival bench set is available for CHF 30.

Plan your visit