The building was constructed by Caspar Ludwig Zumstein, a successful merchant who served as the first mayor of the newly formed municipality of Kempten.
The architecture follows the classic style of a patrician merchant's house, characterized by strict symmetry and representative interiors.
The museum documents the centuries-long rivalry between the Prince-Abbot’s town and the Protestant Imperial City, which were only merged by Bavarian administrative reforms.
The exhibition includes preserved historical trade goods that highlight Kempten's former role as a major center for the linen and grain trade.
The Zumsteinhaus serves as a bridge between the Roman archaeological site of Cambodunum and the medieval core of the city.
The museum underwent extensive modern redesigns to integrate interactive displays into its historic rooms.
The Kempten-Museum im Zumsteinhaus serves as the primary municipal history museum for Kempten, housed within a notable late-Baroque residence originally built in 1803 for the merchant Caspar Ludwig Zumstein. The exhibition focuses on the development of Kempten from its Roman origins as Cambodunum through the Middle Ages and into the industrial era. Key segments of the museum detail the unique historical phenomenon of the 'double city,' where a monastic town and a free imperial city existed side-by-side with separate governance. Visitors explore life in the Allgäu region, including social changes during the 19th and 20th centuries. The building itself is an architectural monument, showcasing period-specific interior design and craftsmanship. It functions as a cultural archive, housing artifacts that reflect the economic and political shifts of this Alpine trading hub.
The central staircase and the view of the ornate façade from the Residenzplatz.
Combine your visit with a walking tour of the nearby St. Lorenz Basilica to better understand the competing religious influences of the city.
Check the museum website for temporary exhibition updates, as they often feature local history perspectives that change seasonally.
Allocate time to observe the ornate ceiling paintings and structural details of the historic house itself, not just the displays.
Attempting to see the Roman Cambodunum archaeological park on the same day without realizing it is at a different location across the city.
Closed on Mondays.
No flash photography in sensitive areas; food and drink are prohibited inside the galleries.
