Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum: Exhibition information

Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum im Tal: What's on offer?

The unusual and humorous museum in the towers of the Isar Gate includes:

• a permanent exhibition on Munich cabaret artist and filmmaker Karl Valentin 
• a separate exhibition on Liesl Karlstadt, Valentin's congenial partner
• a section on Bavarian folk singers
• an in-house cinema with Valentin films in full length
• the Café Turmstüberl, where you can round off your visit at the very top of the Isartor

Exhibition: Objects and Absurdities from Valentin's Life

In the two towers of the Isar Gate, many objects are exhibited that refer to Valentin's life and work. Among them, for example:

• the fur-trimmed winter toothpick
• the telephone that Karl Valentin used in his role as the desperate bookbinder Wanninger, only to be connected from contact person to contact person at the company Meisl & Compagnie

Homage to the Munich comedians Karl Valentin and Liesl Karlstadt

The Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum is a tribute to the Bavarian comedian Karl Valentin (1882 - 1948) and his long-time partner Liesl Karlstadt, who thrilled the people of Munich with their cabaret performances, especially in the 1920s.

In-house cinema shows Valentin films

The two early multimedia geniuses and pioneers of German film come to life again in the museum's own cinema: According to the program, Valentin films are shown there in full length during the museum's operation. This section is supplemented by a listening station with 16 titles as well as a slide show of Valentin's comic advertisements.

To shed more light on Liesl Karlstadt's work after Valentin's death in 1948, a sound station with excerpts from her radio series has been installed. In addition, the first advertising film for German television - a detergent commercial in 1956 - with Karlstadt as the protagonist can also be seen here.

Strange tower clock

Is the tower clock at the Isartor broken? No, it's just upside down. The mirror-inverted clock has been hanging on the Isartor's central tower since 2005: it was a donation from Petra Perle, who ran the "Turmstüberl" café on the third floor for a long time.

Not only the unusual clock, but also the odd opening hours and the deliberate spelling "Musäum" (correct German would be "Museum") show that everything is a little different here.

Admission prices, locations and more!

Admission prices:

• Adults: 2.99 euros
• Children, pupils, students: 1.99 euros
• Family ticket : 6.99 euros

Children's program : Children's matinee with storytelling of marches and music at irregular intervals
Recommended length of stay : 1 to 7 hours (including a visit to the Turmstüberl)
Directions : Bus 132, S-Bahn and Tram 16 and 18 to Isartor
Parking : Parking garage Rieger City and the Isar car park

History of the museum

One of Karl Valentin's admirers - Hannes König - opened the unusual museum in the towers of the Isartor in 1959.

The permanent exhibition on Karl Valentin was completely redesigned in 2008, presenting the gaunt Munich native in all his facets: as a comedian, playwright, word acrobat, actor, filmmaker, craftsman, collector, philosopher, museum director, folk singer and avant-gardist.

A section on Bavarian folk singers, newly established in 2007, is housed in the museum, as is an exhibition on Liesl Karlstadt (1892 - 1960), Valentin's congenial partner. The Musäum is an important component of Munich's cultural landscape.