The Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer, with its comprehensive exhibitions of its own collection together with a multifaceted program of special exhibitions, has been regarded for many years as one of the most important museums in Germany. Located right alongside the Roman Imperial Cathedral, the Museum is one of the special attractions in the city of Speyer, which hosts up to two million tourists every year.
The Historical Museum of the Palatinate has around one million artifacts in its care. In 1869, the collections of the Historical Society of the Palatinate, the former Palatine district, and the city of Speyer were united in order to present a unified history of the Palatinate. The Museum building was built by Gabriel von Seidl (1848-1913); in 1910, the structure was dedicated and it 1990, an extension was added. In 1985, the Historical Museum of the Palatinate Foundation became the museum’s sponsor. Its benefactors are the regional district of the Palatinate, the city of Speyer, the Bishopric of Speyer, the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate, and the Historical Society of the Palatinate, e.V. Dr. Alexander Koch has been the museum’s director since 2005.
Conversion into a foundation and the extension of the museum into an additional 1,800 square meters of exhibition space provided the basis for reorienting the museum’s original concept: Besides the traditional assignments of collection, preservation and research, additional emphasis was placed on communications and a stronger visitor orientation. The idea is that visiting the museum should be a special experience. The way to do that is to portray history and culture as vivid and enthralling. The Museum seeks to position the cultural history of the region in its international context. Large special exhibitions have, since then, attracted hundreds of thousands with such attractive themes as “Stolen and Sunk in the Rhine—Barbarian Treasures” (2006), “Attila and the Huns” (2007), “Samurai” (2008) and “the Vikings” (2009).
In 2004, the Historical Museum of the Palatinate acquired its so-called “Forum”, a generous covered space, 650 square meters in area, that forms an inside courtyard between the four wings of its building. This space functions mainly as a locus of communication. So far, various events have taken place there, including concerts, discussion forums, lectures, readings, film and theater performances and workshops. The glass roof that spans the Forum at a height of more than 50 feet, has a surface area of area of 825 square meters and provides an architectural highlight for the museum. The Forum can be rented; it has a capacity of about 600 persons. There is a feeling of exclusivity within its confines.
In addition, the Historical Museum of the Palatinate has, since 1999, housed the first Children’s and Youth Museum in the Rhineland-Palatinate. A visit to the Youth Museum of Speyer (called “Jumus” for short) offers children and youths an approach to culture and history that is at one and the same time fascinating and appropriate to their ages. Interactive participatory stations, touchable objects, and experience-oriented productions make history fun. Hands-on exhibitions by the Youth Museum of Speyer, such as “ZDF Televsion - Tabaluga, Dandelion & Co. That is how television is done.” (2005/2006) and “Pirates - Rulers of the Seven Seas” (2006/2007) were received with great enthusiasm, and not just by the young museum visitors. After September 13, the exhibition, “Witches – Toad Phlegm and Spider Legs” will be there.
Go to top 