Kempten-Museum im Zumsteinhaus

Imagine a place that locals affectionately call the "city's living room." The Kempten Museum in the Zumstein House is not just a repository of antiquities, but a vibrant multimedia space located in a magnificent historic building dating back to 1802. Situated in the heart of Kempten, this museum offers guests an exciting journey through 2,000 years of history, from Roman legionnaires to modern cultural festivals.

Kempten Museum in Zumsteinhaus. Иллюстрация. Источник: Kupi.com AI

The exhibition spans 580 square meters and is divided into 11 themed zones. You won't find boring, dusty display cases here: the history of Germany and the Allgäu region is presented through interactive installations covering themes of faith, health, migration, and leisure. In 2020, this institution was awarded the title of Germany's best regional museum, confirming its unique approach to visitor engagement.

One of the main highlights of the museum is its openness — entry for all visitors is absolutely free. The space is fully adapted for people with limited mobility, making it an accessible and friendly place for every tourist. On the first floor, guests are greeted by a huge glowing map of the city, helping them get their bearings in the topography of one of the country's oldest settlements.

To clarify details before your visit or to organize a group tour, you can use the contact information provided below. The museum is open to dialogue and is always happy to answer visitors' questions via email or phone. The institution's team actively supports the "open space" concept, making information as accessible as possible.

Inside the museum walls, a complete immersion into the past awaits you. It is worth starting on the first floor, which features an interactive walking map of the city and an impressive 3D model of Kempten. Here, a light show clearly demonstrates how the city grew and changed over the centuries. Be sure to check out the "At Home with the Zumsteins" exhibit to discover the success secrets of the merchant brothers who built this luxurious mansion.

On the second floor, 11 rooms await you, each dedicated to a different facet of human life: from medicine and religion to transport systems and industrial production. A special feature of the exhibition is its tactile and sensory nature — you can and should touch many objects, listen to audio recordings, and watch modern films in a specially equipped cinema in the basement.

Visitors are also invited to become part of the city community by exploring the "citizen's room," which displays projects by Kempten residents themselves. This makes a visit to the museum a personal and emotional experience. Thanks to multimedia installations, even those who don't consider themselves history buffs will find fascinating facts and unusual perspectives on familiar things.

Located in the heart of the city, this cultural center is situated at Residenzplatz 31, directly opposite the famous Residence. Finding it is easy: the Zumsteinhaus building is an architectural landmark of the square, and from popular spots like the Hofgarten park, you can reach the museum entrance in just a couple of minutes on foot.

If you are arriving in Kempten by train, the central station (Kempten Hbf) is approximately 1.5 kilometers away. This distance is easily covered in 15–20 minutes on foot or by city bus lines 1, 3, 6, 7, or 9, which stop at St. Lorenz Basilica or in the central part of the city. For those who value maximum comfort, you can call a taxi from the station or anywhere in the center — the trip to the square will take only about 5 minutes.

Drivers should look for parking in the city center, such as Parkhaus Residenz. From the parking lot, it is only a short walk through picturesque streets to the museum. The Kempten Museum is fully adapted for visitors with disabilities and parents with strollers, making it convenient for all categories of tourists.

The history of this place is inextricably linked with the Zumstein family — merchant brothers from Savoy who built a luxurious bourgeois palace here in 1802. Johann Joseph and Johann Nicolaus Zumstein achieved success in the silk and textile trade, and their residence served as both a home and a commercial office. After the brothers died in 1832, the business ceased, and the building changed hands many times.

The house became city property in the 1960s, which marked the beginning of its "museum career." Initially, it housed Roman exhibits, followed by natural history collections. However, the Kempten Museum took on its modern form only in 2019 after a large-scale renovation and conceptual reimagining. Today, it is recognized as one of the best regional history museums in Germany thanks to its innovative approach to presenting material.

The city of Kempten itself is considered one of the oldest in the country, founded by the Romans under the name Cambodunum in 18 AD. The museum masterfully weaves this ancient chronicle into the context of general European history, showing how the city's appearance and the lives of its inhabitants have changed over two millennia. A special feature of the museum is that the citizens themselves participate in creating its content, contributing personal stories and objects to the collective treasury of memory.

To fully appreciate the wealth of the exposition, an average visitor will need between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. This is enough time to not only explore the 11 themed halls but also interact with the digital stands and watch short films in the basement cinema. The first floor, with its unique city map, usually takes about 40 minutes.

If you are short on time, you can take an express tour in 1 hour, focusing on the main artifacts and the history of the Zumstein family. However, the atmosphere of the "city's living room" encourages more thoughtful and unhurried exploration, so many tourists prefer to stay longer, immersing themselves in the details of city life from past centuries.

The museum welcomes guests from Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Please note that Monday and Tuesday are closing days. Entrance to the museum is free, making it accessible on any day of operation.

Since the schedule may change on public holidays or during special city events, we recommend checking the institution's official website for up-to-date information before your visit.

Kempten is a city with a high concentration of historical monuments, so a visit to the museum in the Zumstein House will be an excellent starting point for a long walk. Many iconic sites are within walking distance, allowing you to create a rich itinerary without extra travel.