Dommuseum

The Dommuseum Frankfurt is housed in the historic cloister of the Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus in Frankfurt am Main and connects sacred art with the history of the cathedral.

The cloister itself largely dates from the early 15th century; its traceried windows and vaulting still offer insight into its former appearance, although later damage and alterations have left their mark.

The museum opened in 1987 and underwent a comprehensive renovation and a re-presentation of its collections in 2017 with support from public funding bodies and the Diocese.

The permanent exhibition brings together liturgical treasures, an extensive collection of medieval and Baroque vestments, and exhibits documenting the history of the Frankfurt Kaiserdom—from Early Medieval excavation finds to evidence of the 19th-century historicist redesign. In addition, the museum presents temporary exhibitions on contemporary art and cultural-historical themes.

As additional exhibition space, the sacristy in the neighboring Haus am Dom, established in the early 2000s, displays church treasures from the collegiate and city churches, including pieces from St. Leonhard and the Liebfrauenkirche. Many of these objects originate from former Carmelite and Dominican monasteries. The tour through the cloister and sacristy thus conveys an impression of the former wealth of Frankfurt’s collegiate churches.

Particularly noteworthy are the exhibits on the role of the Kaiserdom as the site of royal elections and later imperial coronations; the museum explains this significance through information and original finds. Among the notable archaeological discoveries is a child burial recovered in 1991 dating from around the year 700, containing delicate gold jewelry, glass and clay vessels, toys, everyday objects and amulets.