Museum Burg Linn

The Museumszentrum Burg Linn is located in the Linn district of Krefeld; it brings together Burg Linn with the kurfürstliches Jagdschlösschen in the outer bailey, the Archaeological Museum (formerly Niederrheinische Landschaftsmuseum) and the Geismühle outpost.

The polygonal round castle dates back to the 12th century. It was completely destroyed in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704; from 1926 an extensive restoration began, during which the complex was developed into the Landesmuseum. In the 1980s the castle was fitted with a roof that is considered inappropriate from a monument-preservation perspective, and the keep was given a raised superstructure that serves as a viewing point over Linn and the castle park. The rooms address the building history and former life on the site; cultural events and weddings are also held there. The castle park was included in the "Straße der Gartenkunst zwischen Rhein und Maas" in 2004/2005.

The baroque hunting lodge in the outer bailey dates from the 18th century and was built for Elector Clemens August of Bavaria; in 1930 it was incorporated into the Landesmuseum Burg Linn. Furnished Krefeld citizens’ rooms from the 18th and 19th centuries are on display, including the Marianne-Rhodius Room as well as rooms dedicated to families such as Von-der-Leyen, De-Greiff and Von-Beckerath. Another hall commemorates the Battle of Krefeld, and a fully furnished Lower Rhine peasant kitchen complements the museum presentation. The collection includes historical mechanical musical instruments such as flute clocks, music boxes, barrel organs, automatic pianos and the ballroom orchestrion "Clarabella." On the castle façade there is a mechanical glockenspiel with Meissen porcelain bells that plays melodies from Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" and Wilhelm Müller's "Wanderschaft."

The Archaeological Museum comprises archaeological, regional-historical and folkloric collections, as well as a hall for special exhibitions. The exhibition venue originated from a standardized high bunker planned during the Second World War on Rheinbabenstraße; under the "Führer-Sofortprogramm" of 10 October 1940 numerous bunkers were envisaged, and a later use as a museum was already considered in the planning. The floor plan was altered so that subsequent window openings and wider staircases could be installed. From 1952 the converted building served as the "Heimathaus des Niederrheins", was expanded, and displays finds from Burg Linn, the Gellep/Gelduba burial ground and the environs of Krefeld.

The Geismühle, located about 2.5 kilometres southwest of the castle, was originally a watchtower of the castle and was later converted into a windmill. It was restored in 2006/2007, is operational, and belongs as an outpost to the Museumszentrum.