Eichstätt

Domschatz- und Diözesanmuseum

Sebastian Mutzl laid the foundation for the Diocesan Museum in 1901 with the donation of his collection of Christian art. Since 1982, the museum has had a new home in the historic rooms above the cathedral cloister, which were converted and furnished by Karljosef Schattner. Twelve exhibition rooms provide a comprehensive picture of the diocese's history spanning more than twelve centuries, its leading figures and the art created here. 

The exhibits are arranged according to thematic aspects. Room I deals with the structure and organisation of the diocese, its bishops, monasteries and pilgrimage sites. The so-called vestments of St. Willibald are among the most outstanding exhibits. Room II demonstrates the complex architectural history of the cathedral. Other rooms deal with the veneration of saints, the Passion of Christ and martyrs. A separate section is dedicated to the veneration of Mary. Room XI displays magnificent goldsmith's work, mainly from the cathedral, reliquaries and insignia. The painted former chapter house displays important late medieval tapestries depicting the legend of St. Walburga. 

Special exhibitions are presented regularly.

Domschatz- und Diözesanmuseum
Residenzplatz 7
85072 Eichstätt
Telefon Telefon : +49 (0) 8421 50-266
Telefax Telefax : +49 (0) 8421 50-266
dioezesanmuseum(at)bistum-eichstaett(dot)de
www.dioezesanmuseum-eichstaett.de

Informationszentrum Naturpark Altmühltal Eichstätt mit Biotopgarten

The Altmühltal Nature Park Information Centre is located in an unusual and, in itself, remarkable place: the former Notre Dame monastery church, one of Eichstätt's most beautiful Baroque buildings.

Under the elaborately painted dome, an exhibition on the culture, nature and history of the region extends over two floors, combining classic elements with many stations for listening, feeling and discovering – from a ‘walk’ through the natural landscape to music by local composers to encounters with carnival figures, Romans, knights and many a stone surprise. Children can discover lots of things throughout the exhibition behind flaps and in drawers – and especially for them, the little dinosaurs Fossi and Juvi tell them all about the diversity of the Altmühltal Nature Park in a child-friendly way on the information boards. 

In the biotope garden, visitors will find the most important natural habitats (biotopes) of the Altmühl Jura in miniature, including explanations. The Garden of the Senses is dedicated to the sensory experience of nature. More than 40 plants with attractive flowers, beguiling scents or spicy flavours invite visitors to look, feel, smell and taste. Numerous butterflies, bees and bumblebees take advantage of the rich food supply. 

Informationszentrum Naturpark Altmühltal Eichstätt mit Biotopgarten
Notre Dame 1
85072 Eichstätt
Telefon +49 (0) 8421 9876-0
info@naturpark-altmuehltal.de
www.naturpark-altmuehltal.de

Jura-Museum Eichstätt

The Eichstätt Jura Museum at Willibaldsburg Castle, high above the Altmühl Valley, is one of the most beautifully situated natural history museums in Germany. The exhibition focuses on fossils from the Solnhofen limestone slabs, a site of global significance that was opened up by intensive quarrying in the region. Highlights of the collection are undoubtedly the original Eichstätt specimen of Archaeopteryx and Juravenator, the best-preserved predatory dinosaur in Germany. In addition, fossilised pterosaurs, ichthyosaurs, crabs, horseshoe crabs, sharks, fish and many more open a window into a past when the region looked very different – a tropical sea of the Jurassic period around 150 million years ago. Starting from this time, when dinosaurs learned to fly, visitors can explore many aspects of flight. The aquarium room with its ‘living fossils’ and Bavaria's largest living reef builds another bridge to the present. Regularly changing special exhibitions complement the exhibition

Jura-Museum Eichstätt
Burgstraße 19 (Willibaldsburg)
85072 Eichstätt
Telefon Telefon: +49 (0) 8421 602980
info@jura-museum.de
www.jura-museum.de

Museum „Das Jurahaus“

The so-called Jura houses in the region around Eichstätt are a valuable architectural treasure and are among the finest examples of rural architecture ever produced in Europe. Built of quarry stone, with small windows, often hand-hewn beams and gently sloping roofs covered with limestone slabs, they appear to have been carved out of the surrounding landscape, solid, squat and unadorned. Only materials from the surrounding area were used in their construction, and with good maintenance, Jura houses could last for centuries. In the 20th century, however, many Jura houses fell victim to modern new buildings, often of inferior quality.

The Eichstätt Jurahausverein (Jura House Association) is committed to preserving this unique type of house. In addition to the annual ‘Jura House Open Days’, it has also set up the ‘Das Jurahaus’ museum. The main exhibit is the building itself, which was constructed in 1657 in the Buchtalvorstadt district of Eichstätt and has been extensively renovated by the association with a great deal of personal effort. Numerous examples of the building's history are on display here and explained. The museum also provides information about the suburb where the house is located and explains the characteristics and history of Jura houses.

Museum „Das Jurahaus“
Rot-Kreuz-Gasse 17
85072 Eichstätt
Telefon +49 (0) 8421 904405
vorstand@jurahausverein.de
www.jurahaus-verein.de

Museum für Ur- und Frühgeschichte

The Museum of Prehistory and Early History is located on the first floor of the Gemmingen Building at Willibaldsburg Castle. It traces the history of the region from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages. One highlight is the room displaying the skeletons of mammoths, cave hyenas and reindeer.

The production of tools in the Stone Age is another topic. The Celtic period is represented by, among other things, an exceptionally well-preserved sword from the 4th century BC. A special feature is the section with Roman finds, including the only groma (Roman surveying instrument) north of the Alps and a large model of the Roman fort at Pfünz with 500 painted tin figures illustrating life in a fort around 200 AD. Archaeological finds from the early Middle Ages, including a double grave from the Merovingian period, conclude the visit to the museum.

Ongoing special exhibitions on historical topics complement the museum's offerings

Museum für Ur- und Frühgeschichte
Burgstraße 19 (Willibaldsburg)
85072 Eichstätt
Telefon Telefon: +49 (0) 8421 89450
webmaster@histver.de
www.histver.de