Museumshof am Sonnenluch - Heimatmuseum Erkner

The museum farm ‘am Sonnenluch’ is a listed monument. It features herb gardens and fruit orchards and is home to Erkner’s local history museum. The museum is situated at the heart of the farm, in Middle Germany’s oldest ‘Ernhaus’ building from the Frederickian era of inland colonisation (around 1760).

The museum has a permanent exhibition that provides for an overview of the most significant periods, events and personalities of Erkner’s town history from the Bronze Age through to the present day. Visitors can, for example, see a traditional open-hearth kitchen. They can also explore the GDR era: Take a look around a fully furnished living room and a kitchen with typical east German products.

On the grounds of the museum farm, there is also a converted barn with further exhibitions. For example about crafts and trading in Erkner. Or about the origins of the world’s first fully synthetic plastic ‘Bakelite’, and the development of the chemical industry in Erkner. In addition to this, there are alternating special exhibitions.

The outdoor area with the herb garden, meadow orchard, insects hotel and the historic wood-burning oven is a great place to linger. Visitors can also discover a small display of agricultural tools. Various festivals and events are also held on the museum farm, such as the Easter basar, or the colonists’ festival.

The museum farm is located to the south of the town centre, but it is less than half an hour on foot from the regional train and S-Bahn (rapid transit train) station. The nearest bus stops are Erkner - Buchhorster Strasse and Bergstrasse.

Please note: At the time the house was built, people were much shorter. The doorways are therefore very low!