Museum Bergér

Over het museum

The museum goes back to the collecting passion of Fritz Bergér, who over the years gathered fossils from the family's own quarries together with his brothers. In 1968 the Bergér family set up an exhibition of their finds at Gut Harthof near Eichstätt, an estate with more than 800 years of history. To this day the family also operates the quarry on the Blumenberg, a classic site of the Solnhofen limestone.

In the arcaded halls of the estate, ammonites of all sizes, fish such as the predatory Caturus or the beaked fish Aspidorhynchus, crustaceans, and numerous dragonflies can be seen. More than 800 fossil species have already been found in the family's quarries. A cast of the primeval bird Archaeopteryx recalls the region's most famous find. In the modernized "Schatzkammer" (treasury) lie holotypes – fossils first discovered on the family's land, including the giant dragonfly Bergeriaeschnidia abscissa.

Another part of the exhibition is devoted to lithography, the stone printing process invented at the end of the 18th century by Alois Senefelder; a lithographic press from 1850 that still works is on display. Fossils are still prepared in the house. Those who want to search for themselves receive a free introduction at the museum and can borrow tools for the nearby fossil quarry.

Hoogtepunten

• Holotypes in the "Schatzkammer", including the giant dragonfly Bergeriaeschnidia abscissa
• Cast of the primeval bird Archaeopteryx
• Fossil dragonflies, fish, and ammonites from the Solnhofen limestone
• Working lithographic press from 1850
• Free introduction to fossil hunting

Vaste collectie

• Fossilien aus dem Solnhofener Plattenkalk – Tour through the arcaded halls with ammonites, fish, crustaceans, and dragonflies from the quarries of the Bergér family.
• Schatzkammer – Side room with holotypes first found on the land of the Bergér family.
• Die Kunst der Lithografie – Stone printing after Alois Senefelder, demonstrated on a working lithographic press from 1850.

Opgericht

1968

Beheerder

Familie Bergér

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The tour of the museum and the introduction to fossil hunting are free. Tool rental (hammer and chisel) €2 plus deposit. Operations tour on the extraction and processing of the limestone slabs in the quarry and grinding workshop €30, by arrangement only.

Toegankelijkheid

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

Kinderen & gezin

In the nearby fossil quarry on the Blumenberg, families can search for fossils themselves; tools can be borrowed at the museum. Spare clothing and shoes are advisable, as the quarry is very muddy after rain.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

GPS address: Harthof 1, 85072 Eichstätt.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

Museum shop with finds from the family's quarries; tool rental for fossil hunting. Restrooms and washing facilities at the museum.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

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