Museum im Kornhaus

About the museum

The Kornhaus on the Rorschach harbor was built between 1746 and 1749 as a baroque granary of the Princely Abbey of St. Gallen; the master builder was Johann Caspar Bagnato. After the town took over the building in 1908, it served for a long time mainly as a warehouse.

Since 1935 the building has housed a museum, initially as a local history museum. In 1956 the exhibition was expanded by a third floor, and in 1985 Empress Zita of Austria opened the department on Schloss Wartegg. When visitor numbers fell sharply, daily operation was discontinued in 1996 and the museum closed. In 2010 the Ortsbürgergemeinde Rorschach (local citizens' municipality of Rorschach) took over responsibility; the rooms and the exhibition were completely renovated, and in 2011 the house reopened as a hands-on museum.

Today the MiK (Museum im Kornhaus) invites visitors to touch, try out and experiment. It combines hands-on worlds on optics, mathematics, the sense organs, and writing and communication with themes on the history of the Lake Constance region, transport and trade, and life at Schloss Wartegg. In addition, a focus theme that changes every year is presented. Since 2013 the IG Museum im Kornhaus (Museum im Kornhaus interest group) has run the seasonal operation; before that, a foundation was responsible. According to the museum, around 9,000 guests per year came in the years 2012 to 2016.

Highlights

• Hands-on and experiment stations on optics, mathematics and perception
• Baroque Kornhaus from 1746 to 1749 right on the harbor
• Stone Age and Bronze Age house and everyday objects from the Lake Constance region
• Department on Schloss Wartegg and Empress Zita
• Free admission with the Swiss Museum Pass and Swiss Travel Pass
• Museum shop with games and experiments, café corner by the lake

Permanent exhibitions

• Optik-Illusion und Mathe-Magie – Experimental areas on seeing and perception, mathematics, statics and bridge building, plus an area on the sense organs and the brain.
• Von damals – Leben am Bodensee – Stone Age and Bronze Age house, bread oven, tools and everyday objects; also topics on transport, shipping and aviation in the region.
• Gesellschaft – Schloss Wartegg – Objects and stories about the Bourbon-Parma family and Empress Zita, who spent her later years at Schloss Wartegg in Switzerland.

Founded

1935

Operated by

IG Museum im Kornhaus (Patronat der Ortsbürgergemeinde Rorschach)

Admission & discounts

Prices according to the price list as of January 1, 2026; subject to change. Free admission with proof of membership for members of the Swiss Museums Association (VMS/AMS), with the Swiss Museum Pass, with Maestro, Visa and Mastercard of Raiffeisenbank, and with the Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Flexi Pass and Swiss Youth Pass.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 7+

• Hands-on stations

The museum recommends visits preferably from school age (7 years); children and young people up to age 16 may only enter accompanied by an adult. The family bonus applies to families of up to 4 or up to 8 people, respectively.

Getting there & parking

The Kornhaus is located directly on the Rorschach harbor, entrance at Hauptstrasse 58 or Hafenplatz 2.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Self-service café corner right by the lake (coffee and cold drinks); museum shop with cards, art prints, books, games for different age groups and experiments.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 50 guests.

Company events, product presentations and family celebrations in the museum rooms for up to 50 people, on request with a tour of the hands-on worlds; enquire with the museum.

Plan your visit