Middle Ages

Brief description

The exhibition makes the Middle Ages in the Upper Rhine region come to life. All around the true-to-life model of the once powerful Hohenbaden fortress, the ancestral castle of the margraves of Baden, historical weaponry, armaments, and goblets display courtly chivalrous culture.

Epoch

6th – 15th century

Special features

The small “Schwarzacher Köpfchen” (little head of Schwarzach) is the oldest example of figurative glass painting in the Western World.

Everyday life is in focus in the “Life in the city” area. Here, visitors can look into the workshops of artisans, blacksmiths, potters, glass painters, crystal grinders and construction workers. A separate area introduces them to the secrets of the era’s painters, who brought carved sculptures to life with their colours and gilding. The original common room of a half-timbered house, moved into the museum, gives a glimpse into home life at the time.

The intricate recreation of a church interior helps present sacred art. This includes ritual objects used in church services, as well as mystical devotional icons. The religious worldview of the time, which oscillated between a fear of hell and the hope of the afterlife, is embodied by the wooden figure of death wearing a monk's cowl.

Schloss Karlsruhe

Schlossbezirk 10, Karlsruhe

Permanent exhibitions

Picture gallery

Stained glass window shows the child of Jesus fleeing to Egypt
Medieval sculpture with Christ and John
small model of a house from the Middle Ages
Exhibition model of the medieval castle Hohenbaden
Dutch shrine of the Madonna from the 15th century
Original winegrower parlor from the Markgräflerland
Various models of representative dwellings from the 15th century
Sacristy cabinet from Wertheim in the permanent exhibition
View of the Berau altar and other objects in the exhibition on the Middle Ages
View of statue Mary with child
Weisweiler altar with various representations