Erkenbert-Museum

In the townscape of Frankenthal (Rhineland-Palatinate), the Erkenbert-Museum plays a unifying role: it preserves testimonies of the local cultural and artistic history and makes them accessible to visitors.

The museum is now housed in the former Stadtsparkasse building on Rathausplatz. Its name recalls Erkenbert, actually Eckenbert (c. 1079–1132), who founded the Augustiner-Chorherrenstift in Frankenthal in 1119; the structural remains of this foundation are referred to as the Erkenbert-Ruine.

The history of the collection goes back to the 19th century. In 1893 the Altertumsverein Frankenthal, founded in 1892, initially set up the museum in the former granary of the Augustiner-Chorherrenstift. At the beginning of the 20th century the collection moved into an adjacent upper floor of the ruin; parts of it were lost in the air war of 1943, and the remaining remnants were dismantled in 1960. In 1986 the Altertumsverein and the city agreed on joint operation. The new premises in the former Stadtsparkasse were renovated from 1988 and opened in 1990.

The permanent exhibition spans around 1,500 years of Frankenthal’s art and cultural history, a former fortress and garrison town that was referred to as the “Third Capital of the Electoral Palatinate.” Displayed are finds ranging from Early Medieval burial material around 500 AD to regionally produced industrial goods of the 20th century. Accompanying events and guided tours are offered, including programs for children, young people and school groups.

Among the collection’s notable items are paintings by Frankenthal landscape painters such as Gillis van Coninxloo and Anton Mirou from around 1600, as well as Frankenthal porcelain from the second half of the 18th century, which was once used at European princely courts.