City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein | Opening Hours & Directions

The City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein is an authentic place for local history in the heart of Chiemgau. Within the historic walls of the Brothausturm and the former Zieglerwirtshaus, located directly at the town square and opposite St. Oswald Church, a finely curated overview of the development of Traunstein unfolds across several floors: from prehistory and early history to the era of salt production and craftsmanship, up to more recent urban history with bourgeois and rural culture. The location is perfectly connected: visitors can reach the museum from Traunstein train station in about ten minutes on foot via Bahnhofstraße. Those arriving by car can use the central underground garage at Karl-Theodor-Platz or nearby parking options. Particularly inviting: admission is free, and the opening hours are clearly regulated seasonally. Thus, the Heimathaus becomes an uncomplicated, easy cultural stop – for locals as well as for guests wishing to rediscover Traunstein.

Opening Hours and Admission at the City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein

Anyone planning a visit benefits from transparent and seasonally adjusted hours. Since October 1, 2025, the winter opening hours are back in effect at the City Museum Heimathaus: Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sundays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the museum is closed on Mondays. Additionally, the Advent weekends are open – each Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A special service: if a public holiday does not fall on a Monday, the museum is open that day. This regulation aligns with the nature of the house as a community-oriented, easily accessible cultural venue that allows for both spontaneous city strolls and targeted cultural trips. Admission is generally free; donations are welcome. This offer is ideal for families, school classes, tour groups, and anyone who wants to experience culture without barriers. Guided tours can also be organized outside regular hours upon prior arrangement – an option that is particularly suitable for educational institutions, clubs, or thematic small groups. Regular visitors will notice that the Heimathaus continuously develops its content: in addition to the permanent exhibition, there are special presentations and specific program references to the urban cultural landscape. The clear communication from the museum is also helpful for planning: changes, for example due to events, are published in real-time. Combined with the central location, this creates a visit experience without hurdles – a quick glance at the times is all it takes to start the journey through Traunstein's history.

For international guests, the clear time frame is just as practical as it is for locals. The opening hours fall within a pleasant daily window that allows for both early and later visits without planning the entire day. Those passing through the city can take a concentrated tour of the highlights even with limited time; those staying longer can discover floor by floor – and easily pop in for a second round since admission is free. This interplay of accessibility, transparency, and free entry is a palpable part of the profile: the Heimathaus sees itself as an open, welcoming museum in the city center.

Directions and Parking at the Town Square: Karl-Theodor-Platz, Train Station, City Center

The City Museum Heimathaus is located in the historic center of Traunstein. Orientation is provided by the town square: to the west of it is the museum ensemble, opposite St. Oswald Church. Those arriving by train can take the direct footpath from the station into the city via Bahnhofstraße and reach the museum in about ten minutes. This short distance makes the visit particularly comfortable – also as part of a city stroll with a market visit or café stop at the square. The house itself does not have its own parking spaces, which is understandable in the historic old town ensemble. Therefore, the Karl-Theodor-Platz with its underground garage (P2) is recommended. From the garage, stairs and several elevators lead to the levels at the town square; this ensures short, clear paths to the museum. Another good option mentioned by the city of Traunstein is the parking tunnel at the train station (P1), which is only a few minutes' walk away, as well as the large festival area on Siegsdorfer Straße (P3), which is directly connected to the city center via Bahnhofstraße. Additionally, around 700 street parking spaces are available in the city, managed by parking ticket machines. The fees and maximum parking duration vary by zone; a quick look at the signage on-site is sufficient.

A special note for drivers of electric vehicles: since April 1, 2025, vehicles with electric license plates can park for free for up to three hours in public parking spaces in Traunstein. It remains important to adhere to the respective maximum parking duration – this is not lifted by the fee exemption and generally amounts to up to two hours in the city center (with the exception of Karl-Theodor-Platz); at the train station, it is 30 minutes. This regulation does not apply to underground garages or parking structures, but exclusively to public outdoor parking spaces. For all visitors, especially during event weekends in the city center, an earlier arrival is advisable, as the center is very popular. Those combining a visit to the museum with a trip to the old town have the best starting points from Karl-Theodor-Platz: the paths are short, well-signposted, and lead directly to the town square. Visitor groups arriving by bus also use the areas at Karl-Theodor-Platz; from there, it’s a direct route to the museum.

Exhibitions, Highlights, and History: Brothausturm, Zieglerwirtsstube, Salt Works

Content-wise, the Heimathaus spans a wide arc over four floors with a total of around 750 square meters of exhibition space and more than 350 exhibits. The main themes are clear: economy and work (craftsmanship, trade, industry), the city’s history with a focus on the salt works, bourgeois culture, sacred art, and folk piety, as well as aspects of the rural world of the region. Many exhibits have an immediate impact because they make the faces and stories of the city tangible – for example, the series of historical portraits of Traunstein residents. A highlight is the large city model from the 1890s, which makes the urban space experienceable in high detail. The venue itself also tells history: the so-called Upper Tower, built in 1541 and known as Brothausturm, is the last architectural witness of Traunstein's medieval fortifications. It got its name because, after the city fire in 1851, bread was temporarily sold in the vault below the tower. Next door stands the Ziegler property, a rare, unique example of Inn-Salzach architecture in the city with characteristic arcades, bay windows, and raised firewalls – features that shaped the cityscape until 1851. The historic inn room is preserved as the "Zieglerwirtsstube" and is now used for lectures, events, and even civil weddings, fitting the origin of the house.

The history of the collection includes civic engagement since the 19th century: Already in the 1830s, the collection of local historical objects by citizens is documented; in 1873, pharmacist Joseph Pauer applied for the establishment of a museum, which had fixed opening hours in the rear building of the town hall by at least 1888. The museum rooms at the current location were based on a donation from Traunstein resident Elise Angerer, who transferred her residential and commercial building "for the purposes of the municipal historical museum" in 1919. The municipal museum opened in the Heimathaus at Stadtplatz 2–3 in 1923. Since 1951, it has been operated by the specially founded Heimathaus Foundation, which shapes the house together with the city and the Historical Association. The special character of the museum arises from this close connection of architectural history, city history, and civic care: exhibits and architecture tell the same story – that of the city.

Among the thematic focuses are not only craftsmanship, trade, and industry but also religious and folkloric objects, such as those from the Baroque and Biedermeier periods, as well as thematic islands that allow for shifts in perspective: from salt and economic history to the faces of the citizens or from the structural change of the city to bourgeois living culture. These arrangements make the tour varied and accessible – for those interested in history and for visitors who want to view their surroundings with new eyes. The location in two interconnected buildings enhances the effect: as one moves through, one literally traverses the layers of the city.

Photography in the Museum: What is Allowed? Tips for Successful Photos

Many visitors want to take impressions home or share them with friends – hence the frequent question about photography rules. The City Museum Heimathaus generally allows private photography in the exhibition rooms; consideration for other guests remains the most important rule. It is essential to respect personal rights and not to capture visitors unwanted in the frame. A tripod is usually impractical in the cramped historic space; better are high-light settings and steady positions. Those wishing to take high-quality detail shots of exhibits should use the available room light and avoid flash to reduce reflections in glass showcases. For social media posts, capturing the spatial atmosphere is recommended: sightlines through the arcades, the wooden paneling of the Zieglerwirtsstube, or the contrast between stairs and tower vault; all of this conveys the charm of the ensemble better than isolated close-ups.

Commercial photo and film recordings require permission from the museum management. This is standard and serves to protect the exhibits as well as to ensure orderly use of the historic spaces. A brief inquiry is sufficient; contact persons and phone numbers are publicly listed. Food and drinks are generally prohibited in the exhibition rooms, and exhibits must not be touched. When photographing children, attention should be paid to safe locations – the room sequences are historic, and the stairs are steeper than in modern buildings. Practical are combined routes: first the barrier-free areas on the ground floor (e.g., special exhibition room), then the other floors at one's own pace; this allows for breaks and motifs to be well combined. For motifs related to the city, a detour to the town square is worthwhile afterward: the tower with its facades, the shadows cast by the firewalls, and the opposite St. Oswald Church create harmonious sequences of images in daylight as well as in twilight, connecting what was seen in the museum with the urban space.

Heimathaus Traunstein or Heimatmuseum Traunreut? Differences at a Glance

The terms "Heimathaus Traunstein," "Heimatmuseum Traunstein," and "Heimatmuseum Traunreut," which often appear together in search engines, sometimes lead to confusion, but they are actually different institutions. The City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein is located at Stadtplatz 2–3 (83278 Traunstein) and houses the municipal historical collection. It displays exhibits related to the city’s history, craftsmanship, trade and industry, the salt works, and bourgeois culture; a large city model from the 1890s is among the highlights. The institution is supported by a foundation with a long tradition that has emerged from civic engagement. In contrast, the Heimathaus Traunreut (Wichernstraße 5, 83301 Traunreut) is an independent institution with a different profile: it preserves and displays collections related to the history of displaced persons and the emergence of the young city of Traunreut on the site of the former military ammunition factory St. Georgen, serves as a meeting place for compatriots, and has its own, independently structured opening hours. Therefore, those specifically wishing to visit the Traunstein City Museum should orient themselves at the town square in Traunstein and opposite St. Oswald Church; those heading to an appointment or event in Traunreut should choose the address Wichernstraße 5 in 83301 Traunreut.

For digital planning, the clear distinction is helpful: the Traunstein museum communicates its hours seasonally (winter and summer) and currently informs about special exhibitions and projects. In Traunreut, opening and usage times vary depending on the provider and occasion. Those wishing to get to know both houses can easily combine their visits: the cities are only a few minutes apart by car, and thematically the houses complement each other – here the developed urban and cultural history in a historic building ensemble, there the post-war and migration history of a young city with strong contemporary relevance. Thus, an expanded picture of the region emerges from two locations.

Accessibility and Visiting with Children: Orientation in the Historic Ensemble

The Heimathaus is a grown, historic building ensemble – this is precisely what gives it its character, but it also brings architectural limitations. The permanent exhibition extends over several floors and is largely only accessible via steep stairs. Those reliant on step-free paths should consider this when planning: the special exhibition room on the ground floor is barrier-free and often offers changing content that is worthwhile on its own. For families, the combination of the ground floor and selected upper floors is sensible: children particularly enjoy discovering illustrative objects from craftsmanship and city life as well as the city model; the paths can be flexibly adjusted. The central location is practical: breaks can easily be integrated around the town square, with cafés and benches in close proximity.

For groups, it is advisable to coordinate the route in advance – for example, whether to start with the Zieglerwirtsstube or to focus first on the city history related to the salt works. The Zieglerwirtsstube, an atmospheric, wood-paneled event room from the historic inn use, now serves not only for lectures but also as a wedding venue for civil ceremonies. Those planning such a use should clarify appointment options and accompanying conditions directly with the museum. Even if the exhibition tour is not fully barrier-free, the good integration into the urban space helps: access from Karl-Theodor-Platz to the town square is possible via elevators, and the distances in the old town are short. For everyone, comfortable shoes make navigating wooden stairs and historic doorways easier, and those who enjoy photography will have their hands free if a small bag is taken instead of a large backpack – also for the safety of the exhibits.

Special Update: Toy Collection and Digital Offers

An important note for returning guests: the well-known toy collection Heimendahl, which has been displayed in the museum as a permanent loan for years, has not been in the house since September 24, 2025. The freed-up spaces on the third floor will be redesigned during the winter months and will be filled with content related to Traunstein's history starting in March 2026. This update strengthens the museum's focus on urban themes and makes room for objects that have been waiting in storage for their stage. At the same time, the museum is expanding its digital offerings: under the section "Museum Interactive," exhibits and city views can be explored online, portraits can be compared, and puzzles related to the city’s history can be solved – a low-threshold access that fosters curiosity and research drive and prepares for or follows up on the museum visit.

This mix of analog authenticity and digital deepening fits the profile of the house. On-site, the material-rich, spatial experience remains central: the narrow staircase in the tower, the patina of the Zieglerwirtsstube, the light moods on wood and stone – all of this shapes the experience and makes history atmospheric. Online, maps, detail photos, and comparative views open up other levels of knowledge and perception. Those who do not yet know the Heimathaus gain an impression of the character of the rooms; returnees find new connections and background information. In sum, a museum emerges that works with contemporary means while also making its historical foundation visible – right in the middle of the city, open, accessible, and close to the everyday lives of the people who live or visit here.

Sources:

• City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein – Official Website
• City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein – Opening Hours
• City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein – Directions and Parking
• City of Traunstein – Heimathaus with Brothausturm and Zieglerwirtsgaststätte
• City of Traunstein – QR City Walk: Heimathaus (Data on Area/Exhibits)
• City of Traunstein – Parking in Traunstein (P1, P2, P3, Street Parking)
• City of Traunstein – Electric License Plates: Three Hours Free Parking (from April 1, 2025)
• City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein – Blog: Toy Collection Leaves the Museum (September 24, 2025)
• City Museum Heimathaus Traunstein – Notes (Photography, Accessibility)
• BKGE – Heimathaus Traunreut (Address, Profile)