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Museum · Füssen, Baviera
Museum der Stadt Füssen
Museum in the former Baroque monastery of St. Mang, with Baroque halls, the collection of lutes and violins that made Füssen famous, and a Dance of Death from 1602.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Museum der Stadt Füssen
The former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang occupies the high bank of the Lech River, just below the Hohes Schloss. The abbey dates to the 9th century, linked to the memory of Saint Magnus, the hermit who evangelized the region. The current Baroque complex was built between 1696 and 1726 by the architect Johann Jakob Herkomer and shares the site with the town hall and the parish church of St. Mang.
The city museum occupies the monastery’s Baroque halls. The best-known room is the instruments room: Füssen is considered the birthplace of commercial lute making in Europe, and the collection brings together lutes, violins and other string instruments made by craftsmen associated with the town.
Another highlight is the Füssen Dance of Death (Füssener Totentanz) from 1602, with 20 panels — the oldest surviving version of this theme in Bavaria. The route also tells the story of the monastery across almost a thousand years.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour.
Best time
Open from April to October, Tuesday to Sunday; in winter only on some days and in the afternoons. Check before you go. A good option for a rainy afternoon.
How to get there
It's located in the Altstadt of Füssen, next to the church of St. Mang, about a ten-minute walk from the train station.
Tip
Also go into the church of St. Mang next door, which has frescoes about the life of São Magno. From the monastery the bank of the Lech and the path to the Lechfall are nearby.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museum der Stadt Füssen
Why does Füssen have a museum of lutes and violins?
Füssen is considered the birthplace of commercial lute-making in Europe: many craftsmen from the town made string instruments and took the craft to other countries.
What is the Dance of Death of Füssen?
A series of 20 panels painted in 1602 that show Death taking people from all social classes. It is the oldest preserved version of this theme in Bavaria.
Is the museum open every day?
No. It usually closes on Mondays and has fewer opening days in winter. Confirm before you go.