Museum
for Franconia

We focus on preserving, collecting, researching, presenting and communicating the history, art, culture and identity of Franconia.

We approach this social mission with responsibility and passion in order to be an institution of relevance for Franconia and beyond.

The museum is at home in the landmark Marienberg Fortress. Our doors are open to all visitors. We strive to be completely barrier-free and accessible. We extend a warm welcome to everyone!

The museum is a place for encounters, participation and involvement. We deliberately create target group-oriented offers and inspire with our educational work. We connect the past with the present and react to current events. In doing so, we provide impetus for the future. In order to reach many people regionally, nationally and internationally, we use media and digitalization in presentation and communication.

The objects in our collection are contemporary documents and sources of information on the art and cultural history of Franconia. We preserve them with responsibility. We conduct research in a network with other academics and institutions. We document and store our findings and share our expertise. The Museum für Franken is developing into a competence center for the cultural heritage of the entire region. We see ourselves as a contact point and platform for exchange with colleagues and interested parties.

We are an interdisciplinary team that combines its expertise with good communication across departments. Contemporary, sustainable action is important to us. Our way of working is reflected and optimized. We tackle challenges with team spirit and mutual appreciation. The goals we achieve together make us strong.

Our heart beats for Franconia.

Marienberg Fortress has been undergoing renovation in several construction phases since 2022. In the coming years, the core castle, the inner area of the fortress, will be structurally redesigned and refurbished for the Museum für Franken. The result will be a contemporary, visitor-friendly and experience-oriented state museum.

The overall experience of the fortress and the Museum of Franconia
modern, open and participatory.
In future, the permanent exhibition will show the art and cultural history of Franconia from prehistory to the present day. Accessibility will be a key requirement in all areas of the museum - exhibitions, catering and service areas.

Würzburg's art treasures have been exhibited in the Franconian Luitpold Museum in Maxstraße since 1913. Partly with exhibits salvaged from the ruins of the building destroyed in 1945, Max H. von Freeden established the Mainfränkisches Museum in the Zeughaus on Marienberg Fortress from 1946.

From January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2016, this museum, originally an institution of the City of Würzburg, was jointly supported by the City of Würzburg and the Lower Franconian Cultural Foundation of the District of Lower Franconia in the legal form of a special-purpose association. On January 1, 2017, it was transferred to the sponsorship of the Free State of Bavaria. Under the management of Hanswernfried Muth, Hans-Peter Trenschel, Claudia Lichte, Erich Schneider and Jörg Meißner, the museum concept has been continuously developed.

The Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte took over responsibility for the museum and the implementation of the new permanent exhibition on October 1, 2025. As director, Richard Loibl will continue to pursue the redesign and establishment of the new Museum für Franken.

Museum weasel "Mimi" makes museums fun! The mascot of the Museum für Franken since 2012, Mimi introduces children to art objects in a playful way and takes them on an exciting journey of discovery through the exhibition rooms. The art-loving weasel was created by conservator Susanne Wortmann. She lets the mascot slip into various roles and usually equips it with illustrations of original objects from the museum.