The Cultural History Museum in Magdeburg was built at the beginning of the 20th century according to plans by the Viennese architect Friedrich Ohmann and incorporates stylistic elements from the Renaissance and Gothic periods. It houses permanent exhibitions on the history of the city of Magdeburg and the surrounding region, 19th century landscape painting, the Magdeburg Horseman statue (13th century), woven art from Flanders, four historical tapestries (16th-18th century), as well as a number of special exhibitions. The museum's art collection currently includes paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries along with textiles, exquisite wall hangings from Flanders, furniture spanning several centuries, ceramics and some special collections. Closed on Mondays. Guided tours on request.
» www.khm-magdeburg.de
Built in the neo-classical style in 1889, the Cultural History Museum is the oldest museum in Osnabrück. It houses extensive collections from the worlds of archaeology, arts and crafts, design, town history and everyday culture. In addition to finds from the region dating from pre-/early history, the permanent exhibition also includes the iron face mask of a Roman legionnaire from the battle of Varus (9 AD). Designed by Daniel Libeskind, the Graphics Section houses the Albrecht Dürer Collection, which includes more than 200 graphic works. Other impressive presentations include the 16th-19th century Dutch painting collection. Closed on Mondays. Guided tours on request.
» www.osnabrueck-net.de
Founded in 1858 as the provincial museum of Neuvorpommern and Rügen, Stralsund's Cultural History Museum is now considered the oldest of its kind in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 1924 it has been located in medieval brick buildings that used to belong to St. Katharine's abbey, housing exquisite collections on the archaeology, folklore, arts and cultural history of Western Pomerania. The basis for the museum's collection was provided by the Swedish General Governor, Axel Graf von Löwen, who donated his art collection to the town in 1770. Highlights include the golden treasures of Hiddensee and Peenemünde, and paintings and graphic works by Caspar David Friedrich and Philipp Otto Runge. Closed on Mondays, 24 Dec. and 31 Dec., guided tours on request.
» www.hansestadt-stralsund.de
The spectacular Nebra Sky Disk was found on the summit of Mittelberg hill near Nebra (Saxony-Anhalt). The multimedia information centre close to the discovery site takes visitors on a journey back in time to 1,600 BC. The skilfully arranged presentation depicts the fascinating history of the Nebra Sky Disk, now considered to be the world's oldest visual representation of the cosmos. This important relic excavated from Mittelberg hill in the summer of 1999 is key to the early history of European culture, astronomy and religion. At the heart of the centre is the planetarium, which shows visitors what the night sky looked like 3,600 years ago and what role the Nebra Sky Disk played. Closed on Mondays and 24 Dec. Disabled facilities, guided tours on request.
» www.himmelsscheibe-erleben.de
Jever Castle dates back to a fortification from the late 14th century. Set up in 1921, the Castle Museum is dedicated to depicting domestic life between 1500 and 1900. In addition to the grand history of the castle itself, the collection also presents important 20th century cultural objects and works of art from the region. Within its historical rooms, it offers an insight into domestic life in the town, region and countryside, with fascinating exhibits depicting the history of clothing and fashion, and magnificent porcelain and faience earthenware dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The collection also examines the cultural history, folklore and archaeology of the Jeverland. Closed on Mondays, except at Easter, Whitsun and in July/August.
» www.schlossmuseum.de
Opened in 1998, the Prussian Museum in Wesel is housed in the former grain store of Wesel's fortified citadel from the 1830s. Covering an exhibition area of around 2,000m², the chronologically arranged sections depict the development of the Rhenish regions under Prussian rule from the early 17th century to the 20th century. Other themes of the presentation include social and economic structures and processes as well as political developments in the 18th and 19th century, the history of religion and education, and the structure of the Prussian army. The museum also examines the role that Prussia played in the Weimar Republic and during the Nazi period. Closed on Mondays and Fridays.
» www.preussenmuseum.de
The medieval dungeons dating from the 14th century are located in the vaulted cellars of the magnificent town hall designed by Jakob Wolff in Nuremberg's heyday. The dungeons were not a permanent prison in the modern sense. They were used for people awaiting trial. It was only in exceptional cases that prisoners served their full sentences here. Today, you can still see twelve cells, each of which is two metres long and often housed two prisoners. Wooden boards once covered the floors, walls and ceilings. Each cell contained a plank bed, a bench and a wooden board for a table. A higher room housed the torture chamber, once an essential part of the legal process, which offers an insight into some of the more gruesome aspects of the legal system in the Middle Ages. Famous occupants of this prison include the sculptor Veit Stoss. Closed on Mondays between April and October, closed January, closed on Saturdays and Sundays in February and March, open daily during the Christmas market, guided tours only.
» www.nuernberg.de
Covering an exhibition area of 1,000m² in historical vaulted cellars, the Medieval Torture Museum in Rüdesheim provides an informative and instructive insight into the history of the legal system in the Middle Ages. The museum has an extensive collection of some of the most formidable medieval instruments of torture. Visitors can learn all about torture, witches, the stake, witch-hunts, the burning of witches, the obsessive belief in witchcraft, the Inquisition and much more besides. It illustrates the period of witch-hunting from the 14th to the 16th century and the investigations carried out by the heads of church. The exhibits cover three floors and are explained in detail. The background music and dimmed lighting help to create a suitably sombre atmosphere. Open daily from April to November and on Saturdays and Sundays only from December to March.
» www.foltermuseum.com
Housed in a former religious building of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem dating from 1396, the Medieval Crime Museum is the foremost law museum in Germany. Covering approx. 2,000m² across 4 floors, it provides a comprehensive insight into legal proceedings and the development of jurisprudence, laws and the penal system in the German-speaking countries over the last 1,000 years. In addition to documentation on criminal proceedings, loss-of-honour punishments and police law, the museum also has instruments of torture, stocks, masks of shame, collars of shame, shrew's fiddles and shame flutes. The collection also includes books, graphics and legal letters, caricatures about the judiciary and legal ex-libris. In addition, there are presentations on legal aspects of everyday life – such as schools and their punishments, marriage and clothing regulations and much more besides. Open daily.
» www.kriminalmuseum.rothenburg.de
