School Museum

Located in the former building of Villa Riß in Friedrichshafen today is a School Museum with a collection significant throughout Germany. The museum was founded in 1980 in the nearby neighbourhood Schnetzenhausen, and moved nine years later to central Friedrichshafen, where, ever since, the collection has been displayed and is continuously expanded over three floors.

The topics covered by the School Museum include how schools developed, the history of schools in Baden and Württemberg, as well as day-to-day school life, childhood and free time – and all under a special concept; visitors can experience for themselves how it would have been to go to school in the past. You can travel back in time to three authentically recreated classrooms from the years 1850, 1900 and 1930 and it is encouraged to sit on the old school benches and try writing on the slates – a time before you would write in an exercise book. The museum therefore allows its visitors to not only learn about the history of schools, but to experience it.

A unique experience for both adults and children! Exact replicas of equipment and objects from lessons keep the day-to-day school life of previous generations alive. What sort of things did pupils have in their school bags in those days? Were boys and girls taught separately? And how did the teachers treat their pupils? In the permanent exhibition and in temporary exhibitions, no questions about school or childhood go unanswered.

Friedrichshafen’s role in education is still significant today. Home to both the Baden-Württemberg Cooperate State University (DHBW) and the Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen is a university city and a renowned centre for academic research and teaching in southern Germany.