Der Salmen
THE SALMEN: ONE HOUSE, TWO POLES OF GERMAN HISTORY
Originally built as an ostrich tavern, later extended as an event hall, the Salmen became famous far beyond the borders of Offenburg almost 200 years ago: On September 12, 1847, the "Determined Friends of the Constitution" around the later revolutionaries Gustav Struve and Friedrich Hecker proclaimed the "13 Demands of the People" - the first basic rights catalog in the German language - in the packed Salmen Hall. Later, the Jewish community of Offenburg bought the building and used it as a synagogue from 1875 - until the local National Socialists devastated and destroyed the prayer hall in the early morning of November 10, 1938. Thus, the Salmen represents two completely opposite poles of recent German history: the dawn of democracy and freedom, but also their total destruction in the 20th century.
Back in municipal ownership since 1997, Der Salmen has been a monument of national importance since 2002. Since 2022 it has been a modern place of experience and remembrance and at the same time the seat of Offenburg's municipal council.
OUR OFFER
Permanent exhibition: Our interactive permanent exhibition conveys the history of the Salmen in two exhibition rooms and places it in the context of our present. Why are the ideas of almost 200 years ago still explosive today? And why do democratic values need to be defended today as they were then?
270° film: Immerse yourself in the history of the Salmen - directly on the scene. Our 270° film lets you become part of what has happened in the Salmen over the past 200 years. The projection in the historic hall surrounds you all around - leave the present behind and come with us on a 25-minute journey through time!
App tour: Would you like to deepen your knowledge of the history of the Salmen, get to the bottom of individual questions in the exhibition or explore Offenburg's city center in the footsteps of history? The Salmen app will accompany you!
Temporary exhibitions: In the glassed-in front building of the Salmen, there are changing exhibitions on current issues concerning democracy and human rights.
For groups and school classes: We offer different types of courses and guided tours for groups. Simply contact us by mail or telephone.
Der Salmen
Für Schulklassen reserviert: Dienstag, Donnerstag, Freitag 9-14 Uhr
48.468048836267, 7.9470395711639
Guided tour through the current special exhibition
Public guided tour as part of the International Museum Day.
Open day as part of the International Museum Day. Free admission for all!
Topic: The Salmen as a photo studio. Photography in the 19th century Free offer for the lunch break. Duration: 15 min.
Revolution 1848/49. A story of the struggle between liberation and oppression. Back and forth: radical democrats rehearse the uprising. Liberal citizens want freedom, but are afraid of anarchy ...
Since Offenburg was marked by the revolution at the first Freedom Festival in 1997, we have celebrated the Freedom Festival every two years. We commemorate the revolutionary events of the 19th century ...
Open Day as part of the European Day of Jewish Culture on 1.9.2024. Across Europe, September 1, 2024 will be dedicated to Jewish culture. In many countries, the gates to synagogues and cemeteries ...
The Salmen is a contemporary witness and cultural monument of national importance. Not only was it the site of the proclamation of the first German bill of rights on September 12, 1847; it also served ...
Guided tour: From inn to place of democracy: the history of the Salmen Built as a simple inn at the end of the 18th century, known as a place of revolution, later a synagogue, then an electrical store ...
The motto of this year's Open Monument Day is "True Signs. Witnesses of history". Thousands of monuments throughout Germany will be open to interested visitors on the day. Large, everyday and symbolic ...
The Salmen Talk will take place again this year - on September 12, the day of the proclamation of the 13 demands of the people on September 12, 1847 in the Salmen. This time, we will be welcoming ...
Cultural break with the topic: How September 12, 1847 became a major event Around 900 people gathered in the Salmensaal on September 12, 1847 for the meeting to which the "Determined Friends of the ...
The Salmen is a contemporary witness and cultural monument of national importance. It has an ambivalent history: built as a festival hall, it became famous as a place of revolution with the ...
Violence, terror and crimes against humanity: The special exhibition shows works by non-professional Polish artists who deal with the Holocaust in Poland. Almost all of the creators were born after ...
Banquet hall. Synagogue. Electric store. Place of the history of democracy. Cultural monument of national importance. The Salmen has an eventful history that makes the building unique in Offenburg's ...