Museums and galleries in Bayreuth

19 museums and galleries in Bayreuth, from the big collections to small independent spaces.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Archaeological Museum
Archäologisches Museum
Archaeological finds from Upper Franconia and laid out in eight rooms, spanning the stone age through the middle ages. Most text descriptions might be only in German.
End of April to beginning of November: Sat 10:00-15:00, or by appointment€1
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Fantaisie Palace Garden Museum
Schloss and Park Fantaisie
The 18th-century palace designed by the daughter of Margrave Friedrich and Margravine Wilhelmine, features Germany's first garden design museum.
Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow€3.50 (entrance to the park is free)
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Fire Brigade Museum
Feuerwehrmuseum
A collection of fire engines from different eras and regions.
Open upon prior arrangement
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Franz-Liszt-Museum
The house of Franz Liszt, the famous Hungarian composer and father-in-law to Richard Wagner. Very near the Richard Wagner museum.
Sep - Jun: 10:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00; Jul - Aug: 10:00-17:00€2
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German Freemason Museum
Deutsches Freimaurer-Museum
A museum run by the German Freemasons presenting the history of the organization.
Tue-Fri 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00; Sat 10:00-12:00
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German Typewriter Museum
Deutsches Schreibmaschinenmuseum
A collection of typewriters dating back to 1864. The collection in Bayreuth began in 1936, and has expanded ever since.
Mon-Fri by telephone appointmentFree
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Historical Museum
Historisches Museum
This museum chronicles the history of Bayreuth from a small Franconian village to one of the most culturally-important small cities in Germany. The 17th century building provides a suitable setting for the historical collections.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; Jul - Aug: also open Mondays€1.60
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Jean Paul Museum
A small museum dedicated to the life and works of the German poet, who lived his last years from 1804-1825 in Bayreuth. The museum is in the former residence of Richard Wagner's daughter Eva.
Sep - Jun: 10:00-12:00 & 14:00-17:00; Jul - Aug: 10:00-17:00€1.60
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Maisel's Brewery and Coopers Museum
Maisel's Brauerei und Büttnerei Museum
The Guinness Book Of World Records' Most Comprehensive Beer Museum occupies the first brewery building of Maisel's Brewery (taken out of commission in the 1970s). The 90-minute tour covers the entirety of the brewing process, and of course finishes with a glass of Maisel's Weissbier. Group tours for 12 or more people can be booked by calling in advance.
Daily 14:00€4
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Museum of Agricultural Tools and Equipment
Museum für bäuerliche Arbeitsgeräte
A collection of agricultural equipment highlighting the tools and techniques of farmers from Upper Franconia. What started as a private collection by Günter Schmidt was taken over by the city and offered as a public museum starting in 1972. Housed in a historic farmhouse.
Mon-Thu 09:00-12:00€1.50
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Museum of Art
Kunstmuseum
Housed in the former city hall's Renaissance-style building, the Museum of Art offers alternating collections of sculpture and painting.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; Jul - Aug: also open Mondays€1.60
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Museum of Natural History
Urwelt-Museum Oberfranken
The museum in the main pedestrian shopping area highlights the life, geology and mineralogy during the last 500 million years of Upper Franconia. In front of the museum looms a giant dinosaur statue, along the main shopping street.
Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00; Jul - Aug: also open Mondays€2
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Natural Science Museum
Naturkundemuseum
This small museum in a farmhouse just outside the city describes the flora and fauna of Bayreuth and Upper Franconia. The museum is especially designed to engage and educate children.
Nov - Feb: Tue-Fri 09:00-16:00, Sun 10:00-15:00; Mar - Oct: Tue-Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 13:00-17:00€1.50
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New Palace
Neues Schloss
The new residence of the Margrave Friedrich and his wife Wilhelmine after their old residence burnt down. It was designed and built by the French builder Joseph Saint-Pierre, and completed in 1754. The entrance fee includes entrance to the two museums inside as well as the State Gallery. Rooms of interest include the Garden Rooms, Cedar Room, Old Music Room, and the Cabinet of Fragmented Mirrors (designed by Wilhelmine herself).
Apr-Sep: Tue-Sun 09:00-18:00; Oct-Mar: Tue-Sun 10:00-16:00€5.50
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Richard Wagner Museum
The composer's old residence (Wahnfried House, Haus Wahnfried) has been converted to a museum chronicling his life and works. The composer, his wife, and two of their many dogs are buried in the garden. Signs and labels are mostly in German, but an English language audio guide can be borrowed at the reception for a small deposit. Extensively renovated and redesigned in 2015, this museum is a tribute to one of the most famous residents in the history of Bayreuth.
July/August: daily 10:00-18:00 rest of the year: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00Adult €8, under 18: free
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British American Tobacco's Historical Collection
Tabakhistorische Sammlung der B.A.T.
A collection of over 500 objects from British American Tobacco. The history of tobacco culture is presented, encompassing smoking, pipe, and chewing tobacco. The collection is part of the Museum of Art.
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Little Poster Museum
Kleines Plakatmuseum
A collection of contemporary poster art primarily concerning popular culture advertisements (such as movie and performance advertisements). The collection is part of the Museum of Art.
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Museum of Wilhelmine's Bayreuth
Museum Das Bayreuth der Wilhelmine
Museum highlighting the life and culture of Bayreuth during the time of Margravine Wilhelmine. The collections are part of the New Palace, see above for more information.
See Not mapped
State Gallery in the New Palace
Staatsgalerie im Neuen Schloss
Occupying three rooms of the palace, this exhibition features 80 works of art from the late baroque.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bayreuth (CC BY-SA 4.0).