Schwanheim Museum of Local History

This museum is located in an old school building which was constructed in accordance with Philipp Eberhard Wolff’s plans between 1827 and 1832. Today it is known as the Wilhelm Kobelt house in honour of the eponymous doctor and expert in natural and local history who compiled Schwanheim’s first local history collection around 1900. The exhibitions predominantly document the history of the area which was first mentioned in a document in 880. The prehistory and early history take up a considerable amount of space, featuring numerous ceramics from burial mounds dating back to the bronze age and the Hallstatt period as well as a Celtic bull sculpture from Bad Vilbeler Sandstein which was discovered in the wellshaft of a Roman ‘villa rustica’. Further objects illustrate the history of Schwanheim since medieval times; findings document the existence of a moated castle called Goldstein and of a later manor, both of which survived through to the early modern period. Graphic art, photos and archives illustrate the development of Schwanheim as does the work of local sculptors and goldsmiths who were active in the 19th century. The objects, documents and photos on display provide a wealth of information on everyday life in Schwanheim whilst the natural history department presents local birds in their natural habitat.