Our Museums
Museum Burg Miltenberg
The Mildenburg Castle was built in the middle of the 12th century by the Lords of Dürn following an order of Emperor Conrad III. The castle keeps and ring wall date back to this early period. Around 1200, the castle became property of the Archbishops of Mainz. It secured their powerful position and served as a customs office at the southwestern corner of the “Mainviereck” (the quadrangle formed by the river Main). The first official reference dates back to 1226. The Mildenburg Castle was the designated residence of the Amtmann of Mainz, who served as deputy for the acting sovereign of Miltenberg and thus had a position similar to that of a bailiff or a castellan.
A rather extensive, checkered period in history with expansion, capturing, destruction, and reconstruction followed. The owners also kept changing repeatedly after 1803. Since 1979, the Mildenburg Castle has been the property of the City of Miltenberg. From the castle keep you have a breathtaking view onto the River Main valley and the city.
For a long time, it was only possible to look around the castle from its outside. Now, after some considerable renovations, the inside hosts an additional municipal museum. Modern and contemporary art engage into a dynamic dialogue with historic, orthodox icons from the 17th to 19th century. The collection of Romanian reverse glass icons (donated by Dr. Joachim and Marianne Nentwig) is unparalleled throughout Germany. The artworks of modern and contemporary art (i.a. a collection by Dr. Jürgen Lenssen) comprise well-known artists such as Barlach, Beuys, Fräger, Lange, Lehnen, Morgner, Pechstein, Polke, Stötzer, Stoltz and Willikens.
Special exhibitions which are offered regularly, show pieces of renowned artists and intrigue every visitor; even those who have already been here before.
Feel free to book your own tour if you travel with a group.
Please note, that additionally, both municipal museums offer a vast variety of museum workshops for children (and some for adults). You can learn a lot about previous living conditions. There are some hands-on-activities too. Try reverse glass painting, write with a quill pen, paint a coat of arms, or do the laundry like your great-great-grandmother. There are plenty of options and nowadays they are definitely more fun than several centuries ago.
Please find more information on the museum here (German only):
Opening hours:
March 16th to Nov 1st
Tuesdays to Sundays (and on holidays) 11.00 am – 05.00 pm
Nov 2nd to March 15th closed for winter
Guided tours and workshops are available all year round
Museum Burg Miltenberg
Conradyweg 20
63897 Miltenberg
Tel. +49(0)9371-668504
Museum Stadt Miltenberg
The main building was built in 1541 by the Mainz Bailiff Bernhard von Hardheim on an older building’s footing, and after 1625 was used as the seat of the Mainz Electorate’s administration. (“Alte Amtskellerei” (“The Provost’s Office”)) The adjacent former Latin school, and a renaissance style garden offering a delightful view onto the town are also part of the museum.
The museum houses a sumptuous, transregional collection including many significant objects. Along the well-marked round tour architectural features are also pointed out to visitors.
Events and special exhibitions take place regularly. The museum was honoured with the Bavarian Museum Award and the Advancement Award of Lower Franconia; a visit is always worthwhile!
A museum comes to life
Miltenberg houses an exceptional collection about the town’s and the region’s history. The concept of our exhibition is like the principle of a gourmet shop: only the best of the best!
In addition to the information panels next to the displays, an audio guide is available which can be set in German and in English. Ask for your device at the register.
For the young, and the young at heart, the Museum Stadt Miltenberg offers a variety of join-in stations where you can try different things…
If you come as a group, we are happy to give you a customized tour!
Further detailed information on the museum can be found here! (German only)
Tipp: Printed guides are available for 3,50 € and 5,- € respectively
Opening hours:
16th March to 1st November: Tue – Sun 10.00 am – 5.00 pm
2nd November to 14th January: Wed – Sun 11.00 am – 4.00 pm
15th January to 15th March: Winter break
Guided tours are also available outside the opening hours.
Museum der Stadt Miltenberg
Hauptstr. 169-175
63897 Miltenberg
Tel. +49(0)9371-668504
Museum Bürgstadt
The museum in Bürgstadt was opened in 1995 and redesigned completely in 2023. Timelines show the local historical events in relation to church history and trans-regional history. The exhibits are placed within the respective time frames on the timelines. This way the museum presents the history of the region in a seamless graphic way, beginning in prehistoric times and going century by century via Roman times to our time.
The partitions give structure to the exhibition and protect sensitive exhibits from harmful ultraviolet light.
The three focal topics are sandstone, wine growing and tobacco growing have a special place on the ground floor and are clearly defined. The topics “guilds, commerce and tradition” and “church, arts and clerics” are found on the upper level.
The location “Alte Mittelmühle” (“Old central mill”) – which was already mentioned in 1248, is of some interest in itself. The current building, however, was built around 1900. Only the millrace going through the house could be older. The heavy runner stone in front of the entrance was found on the banks of the river Erf and originates from the “Upper Mill”, which was destroyed in the “Michelswasser” (“St. Michael’s flood”) in 1732 (see Sights at the outskirts).
Opening Hours:
Thursday to Sunday 14:00 – 17:00 h
Guided tours any time on request
Free entry – donations welcome.
No staff present – CCTV surveillance.
Museum Bürgstadt
Am Mühlgraben 1
63927 Bürgstadt
Tel. +49(0)9371-99560 (Museum)
Tel. +49(0)9371-9738-0 (Town Hall Bürgstadt for information and guided tours)
Heimatmuseum Kleinheubach
The local history museum of the historical association of Kleinheubach is in the premises of the railway station. Among the exhibits are a huge cinerary urn of the Urnfield culture and Roman coins but mainly durable goods of the past decades. A stove made by the iron foundry Wetzler and a number of pottery items from the early days of the company Scheurich bear a special reference to Kleinheubach. Most remarkable is a piece of the chain used by the chain boats on the river Main hauling strings of barges upstream – at that time a significant progress in transporting cargo on the Main. These boats were called “Meekuh” (“Main cows”) due to the sound their horns made, resembling the lowing of cattle.
To book your visit please contact Arno Bauer, chair of the local historical association of Kleinheubach
Tel. +49(0)9371-6699164 or
mobile +49(0)162-7590207
arnobauer51@web.de
Heimatmuseum Kleinheubach
Bahnhofstraße 3
63924 Kleinheubach
Apothekenmuseum Miltenberg
The oldest apothecary at the Lower Main River
On October 6th, 1514, an unknown pharmacist swore an oath of office before the City Council. Hereby, he founded the first ever pharmacy in the entire region; even Aschaffenburg (a much bigger city) did not have its own apothecary. This fact highlights the importance of Miltenberg during those years. At that time, Miltenberg was quite the trading venue, transhipping merchandise which was on its way from Venice and Nuremberg towards Frankfurt.
Back then, the apothecary was probably run in one of the simple buildings, and medicine was sold through an open window. In 1701, Elector Lothar Franz of Schönborn conceded the right of having the sole pharmacy for this region to Miltenberg, formerly a part of the Electorate of Mainz.
In 1704, Johann Gischeit, the chemist at the time, modernized the front part of the house and converted it to become a prestigious baroque half-timbered house. This appeared odd then after the devastating Thirty Year’s War, and can only be explained by the fact that Gischeit had become wealthy through the vibrancy of the timber business.
Quite some owners of said apothecary had an important social status, i.e., mayor or county commissioner.
In 2016, after more than 500 years, the pharmacy was closed. In summer 2021, a private pharmacy museum was established inside these historic rooms, illustrating the history and significance of pharmaceutical and medical sciences. Old appliances, faience-, and glass containers, as well as ancient literature about herbs convey a sense of how a pharmacy was run in the 16th century. Behind the building, you can have a look at the old apothecary’s physic garden in the Fischergasse.
Opening hours:
16th March to October:
Tue and Fri 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Sat 11.00 am – 3.00 pm
November and December:
Fri 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Sat 11.00 am – 3.00 pm
1st January to 15th March:
closed for winter
Guided tours (max. 12 – 15 people) on request – also outside the opening hours:
20,- € per group
Duration: 60 minutes
Free admission – donations welcome.
Apothekenmuseum Miltenberg
Hauptstraße 116
63897 Miltenberg
info@apothekenmuseum-miltenberg.de
www.apothekenmuseum-miltenberg.de
