Franziskanermuseum

Located in the heart of Villingen’s historic old town, the Franziskanermuseum is one of the most important cultural history museums in the Black Forest region. Housed within a former Franciscan monastery dating from the 13th to the 18th century, the museum combines fascinating collections with impressive historic architecture. Visitors can explore medieval cloisters, former monks’ cells, and beautifully preserved monastery spaces that are attractions in their own right. The museum’s most remarkable highlight is the exhibition dedicated to the Celtic princely grave of Magdalenenberg, one of the largest Celtic burial mounds in Central Europe. Original artifacts, reconstructions, and archaeological discoveries provide a rare glimpse into the lives of powerful Celtic rulers who lived more than 2,500 years ago. Another major attraction is the renowned Black Forest Collection, which explores traditional life, customs, crafts, and folklore in the region. Historic furnishings, everyday objects, costumes, and cultural treasures reveal how people lived in the Black Forest over the centuries. The exhibition also examines how many familiar images of the Black Forest developed and became part of its identity.