Museum kunst + wissen

About the museum

The museum is housed in the Upper Amtshaus, a 16th-century building that once belonged to the Petershausen monastery in Konstanz. From 1814, Diessenhofen entrepreneurs used the house for a textile dyeing and printing business, later known as Turkey-red dyeing and calico printing. At its peak, 110 people worked at 45 printing tables there. In 1884 the business closed after synthetic dyes replaced madder root.

In 1947 the municipality acquired the site. Finds from the old dye works and a bundle of pattern drawings led to a first public exhibition in 1951 and to the idea of a museum. On December 8, 1961, the Stoffdruckereimuseum (textile printing museum) opened in the former factory rooms. On the upper floor, the Diessenhofen artist Carl Roesch (1884–1979) received rooms for a permanent exhibition. The local museum was long run on a voluntary basis by local historians and teachers.

After several years with occasional art exhibitions, the house reopened on February 14, 2014, under the direction of an art historian, realigned its content, and received its current name, museum kunst + wissen. Across three levels, it now shows special exhibitions on art, culture, nature, and local history, as well as works by Carl Roesch and other artists connected to Diessenhofen, and the collection on Turkey-red dyeing and fabric printing.

Highlights

• Works by Diessenhofen artist Carl Roesch (1884–1979)
• Relics of the former Turkey-red dye works and calico printing
• Historic 16th-century Amtshaus with stair tower directly on the Rhine
• Textile printing workshop for school classes with wooden printing blocks
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Sammlung zur Rotfärberei und Stoffdruckerei – Relics of Turkey-red dyeing and calico printing, which operated in the museum building about 200 years ago, including design drawings and printing blocks.
• Werke von Carl Roesch – The museum preserves works by Diessenhofen artist Carl Roesch (1884–1979) and other artists with ties to the town.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Stadtgemeinde Diessenhofen

Director

Lucia Angela Cavegn

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; the museum asks for a donation.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• 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

The entrance floor with the special exhibitions is accessible for people with mobility impairments, and a mobile wheelchair ramp is available. There is no wheelchair-accessible restroom.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

School classes can take a textile printing workshop, where they print with wooden blocks.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with postcards, art cards, hiking maps, and books about and from Diessenhofen.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit