A Glimpse into the Development of the Village
The Gerlingen Town Museum gives a fascinating glimpse into the development of the time when Gerlingen was a village. Going round the permanent exhibition in the former School House, which dates back to 1818, the visitor is offered a peep into how the village developed with its wine growers, farmers and craftsmen.
The life of the Schiller family at Schloss Solitude, the sculptures of Fritz von Graevenitz and the work of different missionaries in Africa, India and China make a fascinating story.
The museum’s three floors are brimming with objects that were in everyday use: tools, portraits and even archaeological findings going back to the ancient and early history of Gerlingen. The various temporary exhibitions at the museum, with the appropriate programmes that accompany them, are always worth a visit.
House of Swabian housewife
Alongside and belonging to the Museum is a building that was formerly a house with its own barn. Here the visitor has the opportunity to look at the world and daily lives of people living at the beginning of the 20th century and to marvel at the provocations of living and working together “Under one Roof”.
Many of the things that were in daily use quite clearly show the hard work that went into washing clothes, keeping themselves clean and keeping the larder well-stocked. As well as all that, the visitor can view the furnishings and fittings of a little general store, a small historical hairdresser’s salon dating from the 1920’s and a doll’s Hospital.
The idyllic Museum’s “Little Courtyard” links the two exhibition houses and offers an ideal setting for events such as concerts, readings or the opening ceremonies of the various exhibitions.
Guided Tours
Guided tours round the Gerlingen Town Museum take place on a regular basis as well as tours in costume, e.g. “the Swabian Housewife". Group tours can be booked by arrangement. Events with an accompaniment complement the temporary and permanent exhibitions.
The Museum’s little mascot “Gockel Gero” is a clever cockerel who knows how to tell about history and who is named after “Gero”, the man who gave Gerlingen its name. Children and young people can wander through the museum learning about the town’s history as they solve the museum’s quiz.
Schools, kindergarten and groups of children can book a guided tour or a workshop with various themes. In the school holidays children between 8 and 12 years old can come to craft and cookery workshops which fit in with the subjects of the temporary and permanent exhibitions. As well as all that, children between the ages of 5 and 13 can celebrate their birthday in the Museum.
Accord with Hungary
Within the exhibition special emphasis is laid on the Hungarians who settled in Gerlingen after World War Two. They made a huge contribution to the obvious growth of the village so that in 1958 it was formally designated a town.
Today there are still strong ties between Hungary and the town of Gerlingen which has not only taken over the patronage for those Hungarians who settled in Germany after World War Two but also carefully fosters the twinning with the Hungarian town of Tata.
We not only have Hungarian/German national costumes on show in the museum but there are also living rooms that are completely furnished as well as objets d’art and other articles from Hungary that were in everyday use.
Children welcome
The Museum’s little mascot “Gockel Gero” is a clever cockerel who knows how to tell about history and who is named after “Gero”, the man who gave Gerlingen its name. Children and young people can wander through the museum learning about the town’s history as they solve the museum’s quiz.
Schools, kindergarten and groups of children can book a guided tour or a workshop with various themes. In the school holidays children between 8 and 12 years old can come to craft and cookery workshops which fit in with the subjects of the temporary and permanent exhibitions.
As well as all that, children between the ages of 5 and 13 can celebrate their birthday in the museum.