The museum holds the 'Freisinger Lukasbild', a 13th-century icon considered one of the oldest depictions of the Virgin Mary in Europe.
The collection includes the world-renowned 'St. Corbinian Shrine', which houses the relics of the patron saint of the diocese.
The site serves as the burial place of Freising's prince-bishops, some of whom are interred in the cathedral grounds adjacent to the museum.
The building features a dedicated 'Schatzkammer' (treasury) designed with climate-controlled, secure vaulting for medieval gold and silver works.
The museum's renovation was led by the architectural firm Brückner & Brückner, emphasizing light and minimalist spatial distribution.
The Diözesanmuseum Freising is one of the largest church museums in the world, housed within the historically significant Domberg complex. Following a major multi-year renovation that concluded in 2022, the museum presents a modernized architectural integration between historical structures and contemporary design. Its permanent collection encompasses over 1,200 years of religious art, ranging from early medieval treasures to Baroque masterpieces and contemporary works. The museum functions as a center for the Diocese of Munich and Freising, showcasing liturgical vestments, goldwork, and significant panel paintings. The facility includes specialized exhibition spaces designed to display sensitive artifacts like medieval tapestries and relics. The site occupies a former prince-bishop's residential building on Freising's cathedral hill. The curation focuses on the intersection of ecclesiastical history and artistic development in Southern Germany. Visitors can observe the structural juxtaposition of the building's ancient foundations with modern glass and steel gallery additions.
The glass-enclosed modern staircase, which provides a dramatic framed view of the cathedral towers.
Plan to explore the adjacent Freising Cathedral and its crypt after your museum visit.
Check the official website for rotating temporary exhibitions that often feature loan pieces from other European dioceses.
Wear comfortable footwear as the path up the Domberg involves a steady incline.
Do not mistake the museum for the neighboring Diocesan Library; ensure you enter via the main museum foyer on Domberg 21.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet tone; photography is permitted in most areas but flash and tripods are strictly prohibited.
