About us

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The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is the largest museum of cultural history in the German-speaking region. Setting nation-wide standards through its scientific and scholarly achievements, it carries the reputation of a dependable reference point in the museum landscape.

The museum investigates art and culture in German-speaking areas in an internationally integrated and innovative way, offering educational experiences in dialogue form. Insights and results are situated within their historical contexts. The exhibition captivates visitors by the aura and presence of the original, awakening curiosity in art and culture through the narrative around it.

As a foundation under public law, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is supported by the Federal Republic of Germany (Ministry for Education and Research), the Free State of Bavaria (Bavarian State Ministry for Science, Research and the Arts), and the city of Nuremberg.

The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is a member of the Leibniz-Association (Leibniz-Gemeinschaft), the only cultural history museum among the eight research museums of this scientific association.

The 26 collection areas consist of, besides the museum’s collections, a historical archive, the German Art Archive with gifts and bequests in the visual arts, a numismatic collection and a graphic arts collection (Department of Prints and Drawings). The research library contains more than 650,000 volumes in the areas of European art and cultural history and is open to the public. The Institute for Art Technology and Conservation is one of the largest institutes of this kind in Germany. Not only responsible for the conservation of the entire collection, it also supports practical training within the course of study for professional restorers.

Model

As a national museum and a museum of the entire German-speaking region we collect and maintain cultural, artistic and historical testimonials from the beginning of history to the present. As a research and educational institution of international standing, we present through our collections, exhibitions and publications cultural history in a broad and interdisciplinary manner. In the interest of our visitors, we aim to communicate content and context in a lively and easily understandable way.

As a place where people – independent of age, origin, education or religion – can experience cultural connections, the Germanisches Nationalmuseum respects all cultures equally.