Museum der Gartenkultur
Museum on the history of the garden with historic garden tools, a garden library, and museum gardens on the Jungviehweide in Illertissen.
Over het museum
In 2010 the collectors Dieter Gaißmayer, Wolfgang E. Hundbiss, and Reinhard Hemmer founded the nonprofit Stiftung Gartenkultur (garden culture foundation) to make their holdings permanently available to the public. Instead of converting an old greenhouse as originally planned, a new building was constructed next to the Gaißmayer perennial nursery on the Jungviehweide northeast of Illertissen, which opened in spring 2013. The foundation remains the operator of the museum; a friends' association with many volunteers designs and maintains the surrounding grounds.
The core consists of around 10,000 collection items, mainly historic garden tools and evidence of horticultural working techniques. In addition there is a reference library with about 5,000 books on perennials, garden design, and historic children's books, which has been open to the public since 2022 with a reading room. Outdoors, the museum gardens are divided into more than 25 plant cabinets of ten by ten meters each, in which old varieties of useful and ornamental plants are preserved and propagated.
After about ten years of changing exhibitions, since mid-2025 the museum has shown the longer-term exhibition "Sehnsucht Garten" (Longing for the Garden). It spans from the early medieval monastery garden on the Reichenau through Renaissance gardens and allotment gardens to the gardens of the future in the age of climate change. Activity stations and a children's character as a companion invite especially young guests to take part.
Hoogtepunten
- Exhibition "Sehnsucht Garten" on European garden history
- Around 10,000 collection items, mainly historic garden tools
- More than 25 plant cabinets with old useful and ornamental plants
- Garden library with around 5,000 books and a reading room
- Hands-on stations such as the Wurmoptikum (worm viewer) and seed microscope
- Museum gardens freely accessible all year
Vaste collectie
- Sehnsucht Garten – Exhibition shown since mid-2025 on regional and European garden history from the monastery garden to the gardens of the future, with activity stations for children.
- Museumsgärten – More than 25 thematic plant cabinets with old useful and ornamental plants, freely accessible all year.
- Opgericht
- 2013
- Beheerder
- Stiftung Gartenkultur
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | € 3 |
|---|---|
| Kinderen & jongeren | gratisgratis t/m 17 jaar · Children and teenagers up to age 18 have free admission. |
| Groepen | –Booked tour (60–90 minutes) for groups of up to 20 people flat rate €120, larger groups €6 per person. |
| Public tour of the museum and gardens (approx. 1 hour) | € 6 |
| "Sehnsucht Garten mit Kaffee" – short tour with coffee and cake, admission included | € 13,50Event series for seniors |
Access to the museum gardens in the outdoor area is free.
Toegankelijkheid
- Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
- Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
Museum building with café, library, and exhibition accessible without steps via the main entrance; the roughly 100 m path from the parking lot is gravel but suitable for wheelchairs. Accessible parking space in the main parking lot. "Reisen für Alle" (Travel for All) certificate: partially accessible for people with walking impairments (valid until November 2026).
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 17 jaar |
|---|
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Doe- en voelstations
The children's character Antonia Botanika leads through hands-on stations such as the Wurmoptikum, seed microscope, and Botanical Art Workshop. Once a month, the "Gartenentdecker:innen" (garden explorers) invite children aged 6 to 12 on Sundays to a usually two-hour hands-on program (free, sometimes €5 materials fee, reservation recommended). There are dedicated learning programs for daycare centers and schools up to 6th grade.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Currently not reachable by public transport. The museum is about 3.5 km northeast of the town center of Illertissen; Illertissen train station is on the Ulm–Memmingen line.
Met de auto
Gratis parkeren · 100 m naar de ingang
Free main parking lot shared with the Gaißmayer perennial nursery, including one accessible parking space. Bus parking is limited – bus groups only with prior registration.
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
Via the A7 Ulm–Kempten, exit 124 Illertissen, toward Industriegebiet Ost; then follow the signs "Museum der Gartenkultur" or "Staudengärtnerei" via Tiefenbacher Weg. By bike via the Iller cycle path or the Rothtal cycle path.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Museumwinkel
- Kluisjes
Museum café in the glass house (Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 11:00–17:00). Museum shop with garden literature, seeds, and children's items. Backpacks and large bags belong in the lockers by the café. Dogs are not allowed indoors; on the grounds they must be on a leash.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
- Ruimtes te huur
- Zakelijke evenementen
Conferences and workshops for companies: library as a meeting room (€500 net including equipment) as well as other experience rooms by arrangement.
Aanvragen & detailsJe bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 60 min. |
|---|---|
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Fotograferen | Photography for private purposes allowed; commercial shoots and wedding photo shoots only with registration and a paid permit. |
| Goed om te weten | Public tours several times a month; group tours of the museum, library, and gardens with registration (60–90 minutes). Bus groups must register in advance. The museum's free app (iOS and Android) offers interactive tours of the gardens. |
