Bavarian State Archaeological Collection: Reopening in April 2024

Archaeological Collection in Munich: Information and tips about the museum

How about a journey back into the past of human existence? After several years of renovation, the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection will reopen. From April 17th, the museum will be open to the public again and will present its exhibits covering 120,000 years of Bavarian settlement history.

Adresse und Öffnungszeiten

Lerchenfeldstr. 2 , 80538 München

Archäologische Staatssammlung München
ASM, Stefanie Friedrich

Why the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection is worth a visit:

Stierschlüssel-Figur
Archäologische Staatssammlung, Stefanie Friedrich

After around eight years of construction, the museum will now shine in new splendor from April 17th: As part of the general renovation, not only were the existing buildings converted, but a new underground special exhibition room was also built.

What to see? The Bavarian State Archaeological Collection is divided into five departments: Prehistoric, Roman Period, Middle Ages, the Mediterranean, Numismatics. Starting with the appearance of the first humans and ending with Charlemagne, a wide variety of exhibitions give insights into the diversity of early human existence. The exhibition highlights include figures from the Paleolithic and New Stone Age, antique grave furnishings, as well as Celtic coin treasures and works of Celtic art.

What's special? Digital experiences, sound installations and hands-on stations invite museum guests young and old to playfully explore with all their senses. Changing special exhibitions in cooperation with other museums are planned from autumn 2024 and focus on individual eras or special art genres.

More info on the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection

  • Location: Next to the Haus der Kunst and the Bavarian National Museum - right next to the English Garden.
  • Museum category: Art and culture
  • Recommended duration of stay: Approx. 2 hours
  • How to get there: Take the U4/U5 to Lehel, bus 100 or tram 18 to Nationalmuseum
  • Website: www.archaeologie.bayern (in German)

New exhibition concept: Immerse yourself in the world of archaeology

In the future, the exhibition in the State Archaeological Collection will provide an insight into the world of archeology with two tours, each in five individually designed themed rooms. The special feature: Both tours are barrier-free and can be walked independently of each other.

  • Tour 1 takes the museum guest into the archaeological terrain, a world full of adventure: Here the museum gives an insight into the Bavarian excavation landscape and the work of the archaeologists. Connections between humans and nature become clear and the audience can discover archeology as a modern, interdisciplinary science. Socio-economic connections and social developments throughout history become clear.
  • Tour 2, on the other hand, impresses with its abundance: a variety of exhibits from different eras illustrate the extensive holdings of the collection-centered museum and take the museum guest into a walk-in archive, so to speak. Highlight objects from the different departments of the house (prehistory and early history, Middle Ages/modern times, Roman times, Mediterranean and Near East as well as numismatics) are presented, and the stories behind them are staged and presented in a variety of ways.

More than 15,000 objects were brought into the new permanent exhibition. Some of them will be exchanged in the future in a rotating system so that everyone has the opportunity to see new objects again and again.

Accessibility and offers for people with disabilities

Barrier-free access creates an open, inclusive and integrative atmosphere. The museum should be accessible to everyone and invite people to linger, not just as a place for learning, but above all as a place for encounters.

Architecture: The newly designed museum building

Der Entwurf für die neue Archäologische Staatssammlung nach der Sanierung durch Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos Madrid, Berlin
©nieto sobejano arquitectos, Madrid, Berlin
The design for the new State Archaeological Collection after renovation by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos Madrid, Berlin

Originally designed by the architects Helmut von Werz, Johann-Christoph Ottow, Erhard Bachmann and Michel Marx in the 1970s, the building with the characteristic Corten steel facade was getting old and had to be closed in 2016. After around eight years of construction, the museum will now shine in new splendor from April 17th: As part of the general renovation, not only were the existing buildings converted, but a new underground special exhibition room was also built. The renovation concept takes up the architectural concept of the existing exhibition cubes and takes it further. The entrance area was also expanded. The renowned Spanish architectural firm Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos, currently known in Munich for other projects such as the Bogenhausener Tor, Hotel Königshof and the Optineo in the Werksviertel, was entrusted with the design and execution.

Excavation and cultural treasures: Other exhibition venues

Burgmuseum Grünwald
Archäologische Staatssammlung
During the renovation, exhibitions can be seen at various locations in Munich – for example at Grünwald Castle

Grünwald Castle: Branch Museum in Munich

  • The Grünwald Castle Museum provides exciting insights into the world of damsels and knights. In addition to the permanent exhibition "Castles in Bavaria," where you can explore the history of Grünwald Castle, the medieval building also offers a branch museum of the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection with many fascinating temporary exhibitions. There are also various special promotions and events throughout the year.

Project "Archaeology Munich": Finds from the Marienhof

  • So far, more than 250 archaeological excavations have taken place in Munich's historic center. What happens to the finds afterwards? Inspired by the large excavations at Marienhof in 2011/2012, numerous state and city agencies formed the "Archaeology Munich" project. Archaeologists, botanists, zoologists, anthropologists and historians have been researching everyday life, the environment and the cityscape of Munich since the Middle Ages.
  • Discover Munich's history while strolling: In four pop-up exhibitions, the finds have been exhibited in the historic center under the slogan "Archaeology for Everyone" - very close to where they were dug out of the ground. A new exhibition is currently being planned.

The Bavarian State Archaeological Collection: About the institution in general

With its newly renovated main building in Munich and its eight branch museums and depots spread across Bavaria, the State Archaeological Collection fulfills the function of the central state museum for archeology in Bavaria, with 200,000-300,000 visitors across Bavaria every year. It collects, stores and indexes excavation finds from Bavaria and forms the central forum for the public presentation of archeology in Bavaria. Thanks to its national and international activities, it is one of the largest and central European collections. The public communication task includes the presentation of Bavaria's archaeologically accessible history, but also the presentation of the social relevance of modern archeology, which today allows far-reaching statements to be made about the relationship between people and the environment.

In cooperation with the cultural department and the museums

This article about Munich's museums is sponsored by the Cultural Department of the City of Munich and was conceived in cooperation with the State Agency for Non-State Museums in Bavaria. The content has been coordinated between the participating museums and muenchen.de, the official city portal.

At a glance

Bavarian State Archaeological Collection

Lerchenfeldstr. 2
80538 München

Tel: +4989125996910