Kurpfälzisches Museum

The Kurpfälzisches Museum is Heidelberg's city museum, housed in the Baroque Palais Morass at Hauptstraße 97 in the Altstadt, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The museum presents the art and cultural history of the Electoral Palatinate (Kurpfalz) region and of Heidelberg itself, spanning prehistory to the modern era. Its collections include archaeological finds from the Neckar area, among them a replica of the jaw of Homo heidelbergensis, one of the oldest human fossils found in Europe, which was discovered in a nearby sand pit. Visitors also find medieval sculpture, including the celebrated Windsheim Twelve Apostles Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider, as well as paintings, graphic works, furniture, crafts and city views that trace Heidelberg's story as a centre of the Electors and later of Romantic art. A section on the Romantic period shows how painters and poets were drawn to the castle ruin and the Neckar valley. The building itself is part of the experience, with period rooms and a courtyard that give a sense of an 18th-century city palace. A visit usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on interest and whether a special exhibition is on. The permanent collection is inexpensive, with reduced rates for students and lower Sunday and holiday prices, and children and youth up to 16 enter free, while special exhibitions cost more. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, and weekday afternoons are generally the quietest, while rainy days and weekends can bring more visitors. Photography without flash is often allowed for personal use in permanent displays, but visitors should check the signs, especially in special exhibitions. The museum sits right on the Hauptstraße, so it combines easily with shopping and a stroll to the Marktplatz or the university quarter. An audio guide or printed leaflet may be available at the desk, and the staff can advise on current exhibitions.