Museum Summer

Now or never! – The castle is being made fit for the future, but before the doors close for the major renovation, there will be one last celebration, games, dancing, and cultural enjoyment with all senses. From August 2 to September 28, the "Museum Summer – One Last Dip in Culture!" invites you to special tours, creative workshops, interactive family offerings, and a large museum auction on the closing weekend. For museum director Eckart Köhne, it is clear: "The castle will close – there is no way around it. But there is still time! Take advantage of the Museum Summer to visit us – feel free to come multiple times! The Museum Summer offers a grand finale – with special tours, exciting special events, and exhibitions included in the admission. Come with family and friends and let’s create memories together." A highlight of the Museum Summer is the diverse event program throughout August and September. From antiquity to the Middle Ages to present-day Baden and Europe, a different collection exhibition will be in the spotlight each week. There will also be weekly special events: At the ancient fashion show "Garments of Antiquity – Fashion of Past Cultures," young and old will learn – literally "up close" – all about the fashion trends of bygone eras. The medieval game night will focus on sociability and strategy. And the historical dances in the castle's garden hall invite visitors to swing their dancing shoes – whether in elegant couple dances or lively peasant rounds. Exciting insights into cultural history are also offered by well-known formats such as the Happy Friday and Highlight Tours, which focus, among other things, on the ancient vase collection of the grand ducal family, the craftsmanship of the Renaissance, or the anti-nuclear movement in Baden. The engaging family tours will take participants on a quest along the Nile to the ancient Egyptians and explore the medieval feeling of "Knights, Castles, City Air." Those who have always wanted to learn about the heroes of ancient Greece or games in ancient Rome will find the right place at the reading and crafting activities. Both big and small history fans can also get creative in numerous workshops, making flags as a sign of peace, decorating clay pots with mosaic pieces, or creating fans, telescopes, and musical instruments. On many days, museum experts will be on-site in the collection to answer all questions about the objects and historical periods in personal conversations. The collection admission includes three current special exhibitions that are worth a visit until September 28: "Injustice & Profit" sheds light on the museum's Nazi past and presents current findings from provenance research. "Can This Go?" questions the handling of resources from antiquity to today and offers many suggestions for sustainable management of raw materials and objects. "Timeless Moments" will showcase impressive photographs by Uli Deck starting July 4, bringing significant moments of the Badisches Landesmuseum and the city history of Karlsruhe to life – an exhibition that invites remembrance and reflection. On Sunday, September 28, the last opening day of the museum, it will be time to say goodbye – and to bid! At the grand museum auction, original exhibition and decoration elements will be auctioned off: from replicas of ancient furniture to a lifelike figure of the city founder Karl Wilhelm, to a three-meter-high olive tree with Mediterranean flair. Martin Wacker will lead the evening as the auctioneer, where not only bidding will take place, but also laughter and reminiscing. The auction items will be viewable starting September 1 at www.landesmuseum.de/auktion. Until the end of September, the castle tower will still offer its magnificent panorama over the fan-shaped city with significant buildings such as the Federal Constitutional Court. Now, one can also continue their journey of knowledge directly on-site: The web app "Ping! Your Date with Democracy" will be expanded and will lead to places of democratic history in the Karlsruhe urban area. From the Ständehaus to the Square of Fundamental Rights to the Federal Court, history enthusiasts will discover with "Ping!" places, monuments, and personalities that have shaped our democratic society. The special feature: Users can "like" buildings, sculptures, and squares based on the Tinder principle – if there is a "match," they can chat directly with them and experience history in an immediate and innovative way. "Ping!" is now available web-based at: ping.landesmuseum.de. Those who wish to feel personally connected to the museum and its collections even during the closure can engage with an object sponsorship starting at 50 euros. Around 100 special objects are available for selection: from the ancient harp player from the Cycladic collection, to a decorated horse saddle from the time of the Turkish wars, to the Baden crown. The sponsorship directly supports the restoration, care, and communication of the collections. As a thank you, sponsors will receive a certificate, a mention in the digital catalog, and on a display in the museum. All objects and further information can be found now at katalog.landesmuseum.de/patenschaft. More about the events in Museum Summer (August 2 – September 28, 2025) at www.landesmuseum.de. Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe Palace Collection exhibition opening hours: Tue – Thu 10 AM – 5 PM, Fri – Sun & holidays 10 AM – 6 PM.