The Völkerkundemuseum is located in the historic Palais Weimar beneath Heidelberg Castle, at the eastern end of the Old Town.

A Baroque Masterpiece

The baroque building was constructed between 1710 and 1714 as the urban residence of the Electoral military governor in Heidelberg, the formerly Hessian General Johann Hermann von Freudenberg-Mariotte.

The Palais is a striking ensemble at the entrance to Heidelberg’s Old Town. As an architectural monument, and due to its historical usage and illustrious residents, it is connected to the history of the city, the university, and the region in many ways. Due to its high art-historical, scientific, and local historical rank, it represents a cultural monument of special significance.

Architectural Design

It was the first private building in Heidelberg to adopt the corps de logis arrangement entre cour et jardin (between courtyard and garden). The complex follows the model of the French urban private mansion, the hôtel particulier. The main building with its cour d’honneur is flanked by two side wings facing the Hauptstraße. On the Neckar side lies the garden, enclosed by walls and bordered by a large sandstone terrace facing the river. This terrace is supported by a row of buttressed arches. With its supporting arcades facing the river, the Palais has defined the riverside view of the city for centuries.

Preservation and Restoration

Extensive renovation and restoration work was required on the terrace, particularly on the parapet and the supporting arcades, with further measures planned. The main burden of these costly measures is borne by the Foundation. It is supported by grants for the preservation and care of cultural monuments from the State Office for Monument Preservation (Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart) and the Denkmalstiftung Baden-Württemberg.

In October 2017, Palais Weimar was selected as “Monument of the Month.” You can find the associated publication here.