Municipal Museum

On 29 July 1898, the Münden Museum ("Altertümer- und Eberlein-Museum") was ceremoniously opened in the Welfenschloss. As one of the oldest municipal museums in Lower Saxony, it grew out of two roots:

An extensive antiquities collection of historical finds made when the excavation pit for the observation tower was dug on the Tillyschanze in 1881. The space in the lower tower room of the Tillyschanze soon proved to be too small for the constantly growing collection of antiquities. In 1887, the collection comprised around 1800 objects.

A large number of plaster models by the Münden-based Berlin sculptor Prof. Gustav Eberlein, which the artist had had brought to Münden Castle from 1893 onwards. The "Eberlein Department" was additionally decorated by the artist himself with hand drawings and paintings.

The restoration of Münden Castle, which was undertaken by the Prussian Department for the Preservation of Monuments, opened up the prospect of appropriate premises for these variously respectable collections. The transfer of most of the antiquities collection from the observation tower of the Tillyschanze to the castle took place in October 1897.

Gustav Eberlein exhibition

A whole railway carriage with numerous unique plaster models by Eberlein arrived in Münden from Berlin at the same time. More works followed in the spring of 1898. Eberlein continuously added to "his" museum with the latest creations from sculpture, architecture and painting. Today, a total of over 900 works of sculpture, painting and writing are known.

Exhibition of Roman finds from Hedemünden

A new permanent exhibition brings the history of the Hedemünden Roman camp to life. In the years between 11 and 9 B.C., the military camp was built as a supply base while Emperor Augustus led his campaigns from the Rhine into the Germanic regions as far as the Weser and Ems rivers. Excavation and research results from the Roman military camp, which was only discovered in 2003, are presented with over 200 finds. They bear witness to life in the Roman camp. Reconstructions of a legionary's tent and equipment as well as varied activity stations invite visitors to discover and participate.

Special exhibition "Alfred Hesse", 24.8.-29.10.2023

An exhibition from the holdings of the Mündener KunstNetz e.V.. in cooperation with the Municipal Museum and the Municipal Archives of Hann. Münden.

Alfred Hesse (1889-1955) became known beyond the region as a versatile Münden artist who worked in a wide variety of techniques with chalk, charcoal, red chalk, ink, oil and watercolours, etching and lithography. His portfolios with views of Hannoversch Münden, Göttingen and the Weser Valley, published since 1909, are particularly popular. As an advertising and commercial artist, he shaped, among other things, the typical design of Münden chewing tobacco packaging and its advertising. Private portraits and numerous views of towns and landscapes that Hesse created on his travels in Germany and abroad complete the selection of his works on display. From Switzerland, his oil paintings of Alpine landscapes are particularly striking, reminiscent of the modern colourfulness of Ferdinand Hodler.

From 1947 until his death in 1955, Hesse was particularly committed to the preservation of Münden's half-timbered buildings. On his initiative, the half-timbering was uncovered again on numerous buildings that had been plastered over the centuries. He played a decisive role in the preservation of historic building fabric, which is still the basis of the charm of the old town today.