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Historical Museum of the Palatinate facts for kids

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Historical Museum of the Palatinate
Historisches Museum der Pfalz
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Museum of the Palatinate – Entrance at the Cathedral Square
Established 1869 (1869)
Location Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Type Museum
Collection size About 1 million artifacts
Visitors 200,000 per year

The Historical Museum of the Palatinate (which in German is Historisches Museum der Pfalz) is a cool museum in the city of Speyer, Germany. It's located right across from the famous Speyer Cathedral. This museum focuses on the amazing history of the Palatinate region.

It holds about 1 million historical items. The oldest item is a hand axe from about 190,000 years ago! The museum is one of Germany's most important. It's especially known for its special exhibitions. More than 200,000 people visit each year, making it a top attraction in Speyer.

The museum is supported by several groups. These include the City of Speyer and different churches. Also, the State of Rhineland-Palatinate helps out. The Historical Society of the Palatinate and the Bezirksverband Palz (County Association) are also supporters.

Museum History

The museum first opened its doors in 1869. It brought together collections from several groups. These included the Historical Society of the Palatinate and the City of Speyer. The main building you see today was built in 1910. A modern new part was added in 1990.

What to See: Exhibitions

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Southeastern side of the Historical Museum of the Palatinate with modern annex

The museum has two types of exhibitions. There are permanent exhibitions that are always there. These show the long history of the Palatinate region. Then there are special exhibitions. These can cover many different historical topics.

Exciting Special Exhibitions

The museum is famous for its special shows. Here are some past popular ones:

  • "Germany and the World Football Championships since 1954" (2004). This celebrated 50 years since Germany won the 1954 World Cup.
  • "Looted and Sunk in the Rhine – The Barbarian’s Treasure of Neupotz" (2006). This show featured over 1,000 Roman-era metal items. They weighed more than 700 kg! These treasures were found in the Rhine River.
  • "Attila and the Huns" (2007).
  • "The Samurai" (2008).
  • "The Vikings" (2009).
  • "Witches – Myth and Reality" (2010).
  • "Amazons – mysterious Female Warriors" (2010/2011).
  • "The Salian Dynasty – Changing Power" (2011).
  • "Discovering Egypt’s Treasures. Masterworks from the Egyptian Museum in Turin" (2012).

Permanent Exhibitions to Explore

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Prehistoric Golden Hat found near Schifferstadt

There are five main permanent exhibitions. They cover a huge area of 8,000 square meters. These include Prehistory, the Roman Era, the Cathedral Treasure, the Modern Era, and the Wine Museum.

  • Cathedral Treasure: This part shows important items from the Salian Dynasty. One key piece is the imperial crown of Conrad II from 1039.
  • The Emperor's Last Clothes: This unique exhibition shows how old clothing found in royal graves at Speyer Cathedral was carefully restored.
  • Prehistory: Here, you can see how people lived in the Palatinate long ago. It covers everything from the very first discoveries to the time the Romans arrived. A famous item is the Golden Hat of Schifferstadt.
  • Roman Era: This section displays items found in the Palatinate from when it was part of the Roman Empire. A special exhibit is a centaur's head from around 10 B.C.
  • Modern Era: Learn about history from the Renaissance up to the end of World War II. Highlights include beautiful Frankental China and old paintings. You can also see the German Flag from the Hambach Festival.
  • Wine Museum: This collection has amazing items related to wine. It even has the oldest wine ever found, the Speyer wine bottle, from the 4th century!
  • Evangelical Church of the Palatinate: This exhibition shows how the Protestant Church grew alongside the history of the Palatinate.

The Young Museum: History for Kids

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The "Forum", (covered courtyard inside the museum)

The "Young Museum" is a special part just for kids. It helps children learn about history in a fun, hands-on way. They offer workshops during school holidays. There are also special programs for school classes.

The Forum: A Place to Gather

The museum has a large covered courtyard called "The Forum." It's 650 square meters big. This space is used for many things. People can meet, enjoy concerts, attend workshops, watch theater, and have discussions here.

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