ethnographical museum

(völkerkundemuseum)

Founded in 1919, the Ethnographical Museum has both permanent and rotating collections comprised of arts and ethnographical objects from Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The permanent collection, which documents the culture, life and environment of the Asmat people in New Guniea, includes cultural objects such as masks, jewellery, household effects, musical instruments, arms and even a large boat. The rotating collections present selective themes of art and culture from different regions.

The museum has been located in the Weimar Palace since 1921, when museum founder Victor Goldschmidt purchased it from Prince Wilhelm von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach. One of the oldest residences in Heidelberg, the palace underwent a renovation in the 1980’s.