Collections | bavarikon

Fischer, Hermann (1851-1920): The Schwäbisches Wörterbuch

The Schwäbisches Wörterbuch (Swabian Dictionary) is one of the largest supra-regional dialect dictionaries in the German language area.

Collection of fungi watercolours by Konrad Schieferdecker (1902-1965)

Konrad Schieferdeckers' personal interest was the study of mycology, botany as well as numismatics and prehistory of the Hildesheim region. He published a series of scientific papers on various topics, including descriptions of some fungi that were new to science. In 1963, he donated a collection of finely drawn watercolours, partially supplemented with ink and pencil drawings, and a few monochrome photographs of micro- and large fungi to the Botanische Staatssammlung München. Almost all of the species (875 taxa) are native to Germany (surroundings of Hildesheim) and also occur in Bavaria.

Collection of fungi watercolours by Dr Fritz Wohlfarth (1906-2005)

Dr Fritz Wohlfarth painted portraits of freshly collected mushroom fruit bodies or other natural objects over decades and, as a skilled fungi expert, identified most of the taxa to species level or had the identification checked by experts. The Botanische Staatssammlung München is now able to present a total of 1,906 images of large mushrooms form the collection online. Almost all of the approximately 800 species are native to Central Europe. The paintings provide information on the site and location, date of discovery and date on which the drawing was carried out, as well as notes on transient features such as smell, consistency, and taste; occasionally microfeatures such as spores are outlined.

Objects of religion, piety and superstition from the collections of the Historische Verein Neuburg

Joseph Benedikt Graßegger (1776-1849), the prominent co-founder of the Historischer Verein Neuburg (Neuburg Historical Society), began collecting objects that relate to confessional customs and personal practices of piety at an early stage of his life. These include images of saints and votive offerings that lend expression and emphasis to the intentions of the faithful. They also include exquisite handicraft pieces with religious motifs, which Graßegger was able to acquire from the inventory of Neuburg Castle.

The Friedrich von Thiersch Collection of the Architekturmuseum der TUM

Friedrich von Thiersch (1852-1921), Munich architect of late historicism, came from a famous family of scholars. After studying architecture at the Technical University of Stuttgart, he worked for three years in the office of Gottfried Semper's students "Mylius and Bluntschli" in Frankfurt am Main before setting up his own business in 1878. In 1882, as a widely unknown architect, he won the competition for the construction of the Reichstag building in Berlin. Another first prize was awarded to Paul Wallot (1841-1912), whose design was realized.

Ritual and Everyday Objects from the Collection of the Jüdisches Museum Augsburg Schwaben

The collection focus of the Jüdisches Museum Augsburg Schwaben (JMAS) (Jewish Museum Augsburg Swabia) is primarily on ritual and everyday objects that tell the story of the socio-cultural development of the Jewish population in what is now Bavarian Swabia. The everyday objects in the JMAS collection offer multifaceted insights into the socio-cultural development of the Jewish population of Augsburg and the surrounding Jewish rural communities.

Paper money of Baden and Württemberg

This collection of the Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung features the paper money issued in the historical states of Baden and Württemberg up to the 1930s, subdivided in each case into the state paper money issued and the "emergency money", known as "Notgeld" in German.

Pictorial documents of Traditional and Popular Dance and Light Music

Historical pictorial documents can provide a variety of insights into traditional and popular light music. With the selection offered in bavarikon from the picture archive of the research centre, the regional as well as the Germany-wide range of activity of several ensembles operating out of Franconia is documented. It also shows that similar phenomena can also be observed in neighbouring European countries on the basis of pictorial documents.

Estates of Bavarian women writers in the Monacensia in the Hildebrandhaus

The bourgeois women's movement in Bavaria from 1886 first started to bear fruit with the founding of the associations for women in Munich from 1890 onwards. Their literary exponents soon followed suit by taking a critical look at traditional bourgeois role models. The collection of the Monacensia im Hildebrandhaus presents their works, writings, documents, and letters.

Roman camp in the armoury

The Römisches Museum’s collection comes from the rich archaeological finds of the city of Augsburg and the nearby surroundings, from which a selection of outstanding objects will be presented in bavarikon. The city archaeology department’s excavations repeatedly unearth Roman finds, some of them quite spectacular. An end to the collection is therefore not in sight.

16th century music manuscripts from the Proske collection

This source collection of music by the canon Carl Proske is one of the most renowned old collections in Germany. Proske’s aim was to establish church music as an integral part of the liturgy, and he is thus one of the most important initiators of the Palestrina Renaissance in Germany.

The Margravial Collections of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Hand drawings, prints as well as city plans, vedute and architectural illustrations are at the heart of the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth’s collection. It includes all the great artists from the 14th to the early 18th century and is thus significant for the Franconia’s art history.

The collection of East Asian Art at Graf-Luxburg-Museum, part of Museen Schloss Aschach

The collection of East Asian art was founded by Friedrich Graf von Luxburg (1829-1905). To furnish the family’s summer residence, he acquired the first pieces of Japanese porcelain and export porcelain produced in China for the European market, in addition to furniture and paintings.

Holding I. Old archive’s “Kommunalarchiv” and “Stiftungsarchiv” (archives of the council or magistrate administration with church and foundation administration 14th-19th century)

The archives contain the written legacy of the town of Wasserburg’s mayors and municipal council offices, the municipal clerk’s office, the municipal treasurer’s office, the court, building office and foundation administrations up to 1808. This collection shows the results and contents of this archival indexing.

Paper money in Latin America and the Caribbean

The paper money of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador and other Latin American and Caribbean states does not just document their economic and monetary history, but also shows how the still young states that only gained their independence in the 19th century see themselves. This collection also takes a look at the design of the banknotes and their motifs.

The Neue Augsburger Kattunfabrik

The heart of this collection is the swatch books and archival documents, also from the predecessor company "Schöppler & Hartmann" as well as the latter’s predecessor company – "Kattundruckerei von Johann Apfel". The other holdings, such as machines, tools and textiles, mainly date from the 20th century.

Plan Collection of the Archiv des Erzbistums München und Freising

In addition to drawings of simple craftsmanship and more technical objectives by ordinariates and parishes in the course of building planning, this collection also contains works by important artists, such as Johann Michael Rottmayr or Ignaz Günther.

Typical Swabian? Identity and stereotypes

The ideas of what is typically Swabian changed over time. It was not until 1837/38 that efforts were made to develop an awareness of the Bavarian-Swabian image, but local and regional identities continued to have an effect. This collection shows objects of Swabian identity and stereotypes.

Times of crisis in Bavarian Swabia: persevere and make do

The shortage of materials after the world wars led people to make souvenirs or useful devices out of the aircraft or ammunition remnants. This collection shows toys, jugs, medals, but also kitchen utensils and clothing that were made from them.

Collecting „folk art“ through research: the partial estate of Gislind M. Ritz

As numerous publications by Gislind M. Ritz attest, she followed the example of her father Josef M. Ritz and was particularly interested in the décor, materials and function of painted and carved rural furniture, reverse glass paintings, monastic works, traditional costumes and jewellery. This collection shows the objects that became the focus of her attention.

The account books of the Regensburg St. Katharinenspital 1354/59 to 1934

The St. Katharinenspital account books not only provide information about the economic situation, but also an insight into the history of the hospital, the city of Regensburg and the East Bavarian region and provide valuable details about agriculture, viticulture, brewing, trade, crafts and much more.

„Wir Ludwig von Gottes Gnaden“. A Comparison of the German-language charters of Ludwig the Bavarian

The German language experienced its breakthrough under Emperor Ludwig IV, "the Bavarian": more than half of the documents were written in German. Using selected examples of documents, this collection pays tribute to the development from Latin into German.

Masterpieces from the Deutsches Museum

The Deutsches Museum in Munich is one of the world’s largest natural science and technology museums and attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually. It has a collection of over 125,000 objects, including both unique originals and historical replicas. The selection of "masterpieces" from the Deutsches Museum shown here presents objects of international technical-historical significance from specialist areas such as shipping, transport, aviation, space travel, prime movers and astronomy.

Free time at last: playing, entertainment, enjoyment and travel in Bavarian Swabia

The 1940s were marked by hardship, material shortages and the war economy. The "economic miracle" in the 1950s finally satisfied the thirst of many aspirations. The development from a post-war economy of scarcity to mass consumption can be seen particularly well in toys, but suitcase record players or tape recorders are also evidence of this change.

Piety, festivals, customs in Bavarian Swabia

Christian religious practices, the church’s calendar of feasts, occasional services, rites of passage and customs are evident in the material culture, which also show the Cistercian abbey of Oberschönenfeld’s orientation towards the transcendent. This collection does not just include devotional objects and votive offerings, but also baptismal clothing, wall decorations, crucifixes and a viaticum set.

Memories made out of hair: jewellery and pictures

The objects featuring human hair at Museum Oberschönenfeld include pieces of jewellery, shadow box memorial pictures with sculptural hairwork and adhesive hair pictures. These include rings, earrings, watch chains and necklaces as well as hair pictures serving as wall decorations. The latter are mainly intended to commemorate deceased family members and are often combined with a photograph in addition to flower arrangements made of hair and decorated with glass beads.

War Collection 1914-1918 by Wilhelm Beck

Wilhelm Beck collected mainly pictorial and written posters during his wartime service in the First World War. Postcards, pamphlets and individual product catalogues complete the collection. These include advertisements for consumer goods, war books, posters for exhibitions, films or theatre performances as well as official announcements.

Arts and Crafts in Bavarian Swabia

The collection focuses on works by the artists Josef Dilger, August Hofer and Hanns Weidner. But objects by Friedrich Brenner, Maria Verburg, Toni Maurer, Andrea Platten, Peter Burkhardt, Jochen Rüth or Christoph Finkel are also represented here. The collection thus shows the interaction between arts and crafts in Swabia.

The Kunstverein München’s books of minutes

The Munich City Archive (Stadtarchiv München) holds a comprehensive collection of archival documents relating to the history of the Munich Art Society (Kunstverein München), which was founded in 1823. Of particular importance are the volumes of minutes of the association's administrative committee from 1823 to 1907, which contain not only minutes but also correspondence, minutes of general meetings, lecture manuscripts, lists of members and annual reports. Attached annual accounts provide an insight into the society's business practices and acquisition policy, as they contain many original receipts from Munich artists and companies.

Portrait Collection of the Münchner Stadtmuseum

The Münchner Stadtmuseum (Munich City Museum) portrait collection shows a variety of important historical personalities and celebrities such as Elector Maximilian I or King Ludwig II, but also Munich originals such as "Wurzel-Sepp" from the Oktoberfest. The "Maillinger Collection", the estate from the photographer Hermann Landshoff and the caricature collection with works by Lovis Corinth, Franz von Stuck or Carl Strathmann are also represented here.

Renaissance jewellery from the Lauingen royal crypt

The jewellery from the Lauingen royal crypt was transferred to the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum) on the orders of King Maximilian II. These are precious pendants, chains, bracelets, belts, rings, agrafes and buttons that served as grave goods. The jewellery is now also accessible digitally in this collection.

Franz Zell: Architect and Trendsetter 1866-1961

The architect Franz Zell was one of the most prominent representatives of Heimatstil in and outside Bavaria. He designed and staged parlour furnishings and collection displays for numerous regional and national museums. This collection is part of his widely scattered estate.

The Bauhaus Collection of the Neue Sammlung

The Münchner Bund Collection of the Neue Sammlung

The Graßegger Collection of the Historische Verein Neuburg an der Donau

The merchant and important local historian Joseph Graßegger was the author of the first statutes of the Historischer Verein Neuburg (Historical Association Neuburg). With an understanding of art and considerable effort, he saved exemplary and culturally and historically relevant archives and art objects from his own funds.

Glass plates from the holdings of the Bayerischer Landesverein für Heimatpflege e.V.

The collection of about 3,000 glass plates depicts streets, village squares, buildings, but also natural spaces and cultural landscapes as well as technical buildings that were built during the course of mechanisation and electrification in Bavaria from the 1920s onwards.

Documents of the Stadtarchiv Straubing

Stadtarchiv Straubing municipal archive holds approximately 1,400 documents, 636 of which are dated between 1311 and 1536. They document the government, administration, economy, society, religion and everyday life of a medieval town in an exemplary manner.

Coins and medals from the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in the early modern period until 1803

The most diverse coinage in early modern Europe took place within the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Both secular and ecclesiastical estates, cities and even minting societies minted their own money. The right to mint coins was highly valued and led to a variety of coin types and representative showpieces in the form of medals, interesting pieces of which are presented in this collection.

St. Emmeram centre of science in Regensburg

The city of Regensburg and its Benedictine monastery of St. Emmeram have always been considered a haven for the sciences. As a result, this collection contains works from the Staatliche Bibliothek Regensburg (Regensburg State Library) as well as manuscripts on St. Emmeram. Records and chronicles, copies of documents, directories and correspondence by Prince-Abbot Frobenius Forster, archivist Roman Zirngibl and antiquities researcher Bernhard Stark, among others, are presented.

Placenames in the Administrative Region of Swabia

The database explains the names of all places that existed at the end of the 20th century and were first documented in writing before 1800. The respective articles contain historical spelling forms, the dialect pronunciation in phonetic transcriptions and as audio files, further explanations as well as references to literature. "Die Ortsnamen des Regierungsbezirks Schwaben" is a project by the Kommission für bayerische Landesgeschichte (Commission for Bavarian Regional History).

Working environments in craftsmanship and industry in Bavarian Swabia

Whether it’s Bärenmarke, Trevira or products from craftsmen such as the Hösle painting company, Heinz joinery or Stegmann weaving mill: the selection of tools, equipment and products from craftsmanship, manufactories and factories documents the development of trade in Bavarian Swabia.

19th and 20th century Bavarian securities

The Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv (The Bavarian Business Archive) collection includes securities from Bavarian issuers from the period between 1804 and 1997, mainly founding shares in companies, some of which still exist today. They are part of the unique collection belonging to the collector Uto Baader (born 1944).

Urban music culture in Upper German imperial towns between 1500 and 1800 – town musicians (town pipers) in Rothenburg o. d. Tauber, Nördlingen, and Dinkelsbühl

Extensive records on the town musicians (town pipers) have been preserved in the archives of the three former imperial towns. They include applications, complaints, reports, begging letters, etc and provide information about the networks of musical families (Hetsch, Raiger, Klotz). They also show the diversity of the musicians of the time, who all mastered several instruments and not only played music on official occasions but also in churches, at weddings or private celebrations.

The Imperial Robes of Bamberg

The Bamberg imperial vestments are the oldest textiles preserved from European rulers and commemorate Emperor Heinrich II and his wife Kunigunde. Over the course of their thousands of years of history, these have been subject to considerable change, which is traced in this collection.

The estate of Richard and Cosima Wagner

The Richard Wagner Museum mit Nationalarchiv der Richard-Wagner-Stiftung Bayreuth (Richard Wagner Museum with National Archives of the Richard Wagner Foundation) presents around 12,000 digital copies from the Richard Wagner family archive in bavarikon. This contains the world’s largest and most important collection of autographs, manuscripts, music, objects, photos and literature on Richard Wagner, his wife Cosima and son Siegfried, on Franz Liszt and on the history of the Bayreuth Festival.

The Falkensteinensis Codex, 1166-approx. 1196

The Falkensteinensis Codex assumes a very special position among tradition books, as it contains the only tradition book of a noble family and is at the same time the oldest income register of a secular manor.

Tradition books from the holdings of the Bayerische Hauptstaatsarchiv

The transfers of property rights are written down in tradition books. Moreover, they are usually the proof of this process. They are often the only source for names of people and places in the early and high Middle Ages. This collection shows tradition books from Bavarian bishoprics, cathedral chapters and monasteries.

Urbaria from the holdings of the Bayerische Hauptstaatsarchiv

Urbaria are among the oldest types of official books developed in the medieval administrations of ecclesiastical and secular rulers. They contain legal titles for the acquisitions of farms, land and dependent people as well as records about the usable property and the regular income from it. This collection shows the urbaria from the Bishopric of Freising and the Duchy of Bavaria.

Inheriting Culture. Bavaria’s intangible cultural heritage list

The forms of cultural expression recorded in Bavaria’s intangible cultural heritage list are characteristic of the diversity of cultural heritage in Bavaria. The focus is on the complexity and diversity of Bavarian culture. This collection is part of the "Culture heirs. Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bavaria" virtual exhibition.

Documents from the Stiftsarchiv Aschaffenburg from 982 to 1525

The holdings include the original documents from the former St. Peter and Alexander collegiate church in Aschaffenburg. bavarikon presents over 1,800 digital documents from popes, the archbishops of Mainz as well as imperial or royal documents.

Views from the Stadt- und Stiftsarchiv Aschaffenburg

The graphic collection’s "Views" holdings include illustrated sheets, book illustrations, maps, military sheets or event images in a wide variety of formats and techniques, such as copperplate engravings, etchings, aquatints, lithographs, steel and wood engravings as well as drawings and watercolours. In terms of content, it focuses on topographical representations of the "Bayerischer Untermain" region.

The estate of the Germanist Walter Höllerer

The estate of the literary scholar and writer Walter Höllerer (1922-2003) digitised here is one of the most important surviving records of literature after 1945 in Germany and contains extensive correspondence with authors such as Ilse Aichinger, Ingeborg Bachmann, Paul Celan, Günter Grass, Uwe Johnson and Alain Robbe-Grillet.

Works of art from Bavarian castles

In addition to famous monuments, the Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (Bavarian Department of State-owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes) also looks after well over 100,000 priceless works of art such as furniture, paintings, sculptures, objects of courtly dining culture as well as glass, porcelain or ceramic works. A selection of these is presented in bavarikon.

Coloured plant drawings from the Trew Library

The volumes with coloured drawings of plants by renowned artists in watercolour or gouache technique, presented here and kept in the Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg (University Library of the Friedrich Alexander University, FAU), come from what is probably the most important private scientific collection from the 18th century in the German-speaking world: the scholarly library of the Nuremberg city physician Dr Christoph Jacob Trew (1695-1769).

Manuscripts and incunabula from the Treasury of the Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg

The Universitätsbibliothek Erlangen-Nürnberg (University Library of the Friedrich Alexander University, FAU) founded in the middle of the 18th century possesses a valuable collection of manuscripts and incunabula. Of the more than 2,400 medieval and early modern manuscripts, particularly valuable examples of book art with grisaille painting, pen drawings, watercolours or magnificent gilding are presented here.

The art collection belonging to the Tucher von Simmelsdorf family

Artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Veit Stoß and Wenzel Jamnitzer created major works of art on commission by the important Tucher patrician family from Nuremberg. The collection presents a selection, including the “Großes Tucherbuch” commissioned in 1590, pieces from the portrait collection as well as arts and crafts such as the famous Limoges service.

The Tucher von Simmelsdorf family archive

The Stadtarchiv Nürnberg (City Archive Nuremberg) holds the extensive Tucher family archive on loan from the Tucher’sche Kulturstiftung. A large selection of historically significant portrait photographs of the patrician family from Nuremberg as well as valuable manuscripts such as "Das Große Tucherbuch" are presented in bavarikon.

100 highlights from the Neue Sammlung

Die Neue Sammlung, the oldest design museum in the world, houses important designs from the history of design, ranging from objects from Art Nouveau and Art Déco, functionalism and postmodernism to contemporary designs. They show the decisive stages in the development of modern design.

Prince-Bishop Julius Echters buildings in the diocese of Würzburg

The Würzburg Prince-Bishop Julius Echter (1545-1617) was already praised by his contemporaries for his extensive building activity. The collection here presents the buildings erected during his reign in the diocese of Würzburg, such as churches, chapels, parsonages, official buildings, schools, hospitals and city fortifications.

Paper money in Europe

This collection shows the banknotes of European countries from their beginnings until about 1945. Banknotes are part of Europe’s cultural heritage due to their graphic-artistic design, the combination of different printing techniques and their historical information content.

16th to 20th century historical textbooks from Bavaria from the Universitätsbibliothek Augsburg

One of the most important special collections of its kind in Germany, the historical textbooks collection in Universitätsbibliothek Augsburg (University Library Augsburg) contains works that were intended for learners. These include text editions intended for school reading, accompanying text explanations as well as learning materials for a wide variety of schools or teacher training institutions. One focus of the selection presented on bavarikon is on textbooks from publishing locations in Bavaria.

The collection of leaflets and posters from the Monacensia

The Monacensia’s collection of posters and pamphlets, which ranges from the 18th to the 20th century, contains important documents on the 1918/19 revolution in Bavaria initiated by Kurt Eisner (1867-1919), which ended the monarchy and the 700-year rule of the Wittelsbach dynasty. They include posters calling for a National Assembly, the decision to disarm the citizens and the notice of the end of the general strike.

Nuremberg city views from 1600 to 1850

The Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg (Nuremberg City Library) collection preserves basic image sources on the topography, architecture and cultural life of the city of Nuremberg and its surroundings. These illustrations of the architectural monuments, most of which were built before 1650, were produced using the latest printing techniques and bear the personal signature of various artists. Today, they are regarded as a time capsule of the "old Nuremberg", which was irreparably destroyed in the night of the bombing on 2 January 1945.

Thurnau pottery tradition

The handicraft tradition of pottery can be traced without interruption from the 16th century to the present day in Thurnau. Up to eight potteries mainly produced tableware: simple earthenware for the kitchen, stables and field, with more arts and crafts too from the 20th century.

Manuscripts from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Age from the Augustinerbibliothek Münnerstadt

The Augustinerbibliothek Münnerstadt’s (Münnerstadt Augustinian Library) manuscript and autograph collection mainly comprises works from the early modern period as well as the 19th and 20th century, alongside parchment fragments and manuscripts from the Middle Ages. It provides valuable source material on the history of the church and orders, Franconian regional history, university history and theatre history. In addition, there are musical works from the 15th to the 20th century.

Bavarias external relations - Bavarian envoys in other states and foreign diplomats in Bavaria 1648-2020

Bavaria is involved in the history of Europe in many ways. As a medium-sized political player, Bavaria was often able to pursue an independent foreign policy until 1871. The database "Bavaria's Foreign Relations" catalogues Bavaria's diplomatic and consular contacts from the 17th century to the present day (up to and including 2020). On the one hand, it contains the diplomats and consuls who acted as representatives of Bavaria or the Bavarian princes outside the state, and on the other hand the representatives of foreign governments accredited in Bavaria.

14th to 16th century manuscript and printed music sources from Nuremberg churches

Nuremberg was an important centre for the production and distribution of both sacred and secular music for the entire Roman Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. The surviving musical manuscripts and prints reflect an extraordinary diversity, which is presented in this collection.

Treasures in the Provinzialibliothek Amberg

The Provinzialbibliothek Amberg (Provincial Library in Amberg) presents medieval and modern manuscripts that deal with the region’s territorial, denominational and intellectual history. These unique manuscripts are of great importance especially in an area such as the Upper Palatinate, which moved so turbulently between reformation and revolution in terms of denomination.

Treasures in the Hofbibliothek Aschaffenburg

The collection presents specimens of the important Aschaffenburg holdings, such as the Fulda feast day lectionary, the Mainz gospel, the Missal Hallense or a Gutenberg Bible.

Treasures in the Staatsbibliothek Bamberg

The Staatsbibliothek Bamberg (State Library Bamberg) is one of the most important old collection libraries in Bavaria. Its historical holdings reflect the history of book collecting in Bamberg and Upper Franconia from the Middle Ages to the modern age. These range from medieval manuscripts and early modern prints, incunabula and graphic works to important works by literary figures who lived or worked in Upper Franconia, such as E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822) and Jean Paul (1763-1825).

Bayerische Landesbauernkammer 1920-1933

As the self-governing body of Bavarian agriculture, the Bayerische Landesbauernkammer (Bavarian Chamber of Agriculture) dealt with agricultural policy issues during the years of the Weimar Republic. Due to the Landesbauernkammer’s self-image as a “farmer’s parliament”, its privately owned stenographic reports copy the external appearance of the Bavarian Landtag’s reports on negotiations. They are the only known complete copy.

Measurement of time and space: historical measuring instruments from the Deutsches Museum

The collection contains 3D digitised instruments for measuring time and space from the Deutsches Museum (German Museum Masterpieces of Science and Technology). They are assigned to the subject areas "time measurement", "astronomy", "navigation" and "geodesy".

Coins, medals and coin-like objects from Bavaria, Franconia, Swabia and the Palatinate in modern times

This collection is one of the most important focal points of the Staatliche Münzsammlung (State Coin Collection) in Munich. The diversity of the pieces, from everyday money to stamps and money substitutes as well as outstanding works of medal art, reflects the eventful history of Bavaria’s society, mentalities, everyday life and economy from the end of the Middle Ages to the 21st century.

Official books and records from the Stiftsarchiv Aschaffenburg

This collection contains official books, minutes, manuscripts and copies of documents from the former St. Peter and Alexander collegiate church in Aschaffenburg, the origins of which date far back into the early Middle Ages. They served the canons as aids for administration, but also for spiritual life and remembrance of the dead.

The Emblem Books of the Dombibliothek Freising

The emblem is a combination of image and text that can be designed in two or more parts. Its essential feature is the suspense or even mystery that develops between the text parts, in particular the motto, and the image. The emblem books from the Dombibliothek Freising (Cathedral Library Freising) comprise over 220 emblems from ten titles from the 17th to the 20th century. The most exciting of these works are presented in bavarikon.

Central Asian manuscripts from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek collection

Particularly outstanding pieces are presented here from the collection of Central Asian manuscripts in the Manchurian, Mongolian and Tibetan languages, comprising a good 1,700 manuscripts, such as a Mongolian Sūtra manuscript produced in Beijing and a Mahayana Sutra text from the Kanjur, i.e. a translation of the Buddha’s words.

Treasures of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseums

Exemplary objects digitised in 3D from the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum) holdings are presented in bavarikon, e.g. the carved "Infant Jesus with Grapes" from 1470 or an ivory relief (c. 400 AD), which is one of the oldest depictions of the “Resurrection and Ascension of Christ”.

Early Modern Land Surveys

Official land maps have existed since the 16th century. They described a territory by surveying, researching administrative records and interviewing local people. One of the best-known land maps is the work by Philipp Apian (1531-1589), who systematically surveyed the Duchy of Bavaria (Upper and Lower Bavaria) until 1561.

Rare banknotes from all over the world

The Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung (Giesecke+Devrient foundation: collection of bank notes) presents historical banknotes from all over the world. They document the beginnings and further development of paper money. Some of these pieces are very rare and only a few still exist.

Resources on the history of the Fugger family

The Fuggers were one of the most powerful trading houses in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. The collection shows historically important sources such as the “Ehrenbuch der Fugger” or the series of copper engravings “Fuggerorum et Fuggerarum... imagines” published for family use.

Sources on Bavarian agricultural and economic policy

The collection shows a cross-section of the archival material from Bavarian companies and business organisations kept at the Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv (The Bavarian Business Archive). In addition to company advertisements, especially from the early 19th century, other topics include the Munich breweries’ malt consumption and the development of the Maximilianshütte ironworks.

Menus from Munich restaurants in the 19th and 20th centuries

The menus from Munich restaurants from 1888 to 1983 are part of the archival holdings of the major Munich breweries such as Löwenbräu, Paulanerbräu, Pschorrbräu or Hackerbräu, which are kept in the Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv (The Bavarian Business Archive). The range extends from a mere handwritten to sometimes lavishly printed menu series and multilingual culinary guides from restaurant establishments preferred by tourists.

Codices iconographici at the Bavarian State Library - Cod.icon.

The codices iconographici are predominantly representative "picture books" on the realities of the profane world. They are drawn by pen or with opaque colours, also splendidly coloured with silver and gold as show pieces. With a few exceptions, they originate from medieval maps and books of coats of arms from the 16th to the 20th century.

Armorials from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The armorials that have existed since the middle of the 13th century depict both real and imaginatively invented shields or full coats of arms. In addition to the aristocratic genealogies, they are heraldic sources that bear witness to the noble lifestyle and self-portrayal.

French prisoners of war in Regensburg during the First World War

The prisoner-of-war camp in Regensburg was one of twelve camps in Bavaria. The "Le pour et le contre" camp newspaper produced by the prisoners themselves and a collection of theatre programmes and Christmas cards from the years 1914 to 1917 offer insights into the everyday life of French prisoners of war during the First World War in Germany.

Lori, Johann Georg von: Selected Works

The constitutional lawyer, politician and historian Johann Georg von Lori (1723-1787) wrote important collections of sources on Bavarian history and legal history, some of which are still indispensable today.

Die Nutz- und Lust-erweckende Gsellschafft Der Vertrauten Nachbarn am Isarstrom (The useful and pleasurable company of close neighbours on the river Isar)

The periodical, designed in the form of a discursive periodical, was first published in Munich in 1702-1704. The fictional discussions deal with the political topics of the day, report on events in Bavarian history or entertain one another with instructive and edifying stories.

Preysing, Johann Maximilian Emanuel von: Diaries

Johann Maximilian Emanuel von Preysing-Hohenaschau (1687-1764), civil servant and minister, was the most powerful official in Bavaria and one of the most influential figures in 18th century Bavarian politics for a time. His calendar notes and diaries shown here provide insights into the everyday life of the Munich court in the mid-18th century.

Selected incunabula from Freising Cathedral library and the Metropolitan Chapter of Munich library

The collections in the Dombibliothek Freising (Cathedral Library Freising) and Bibliothek des Metropolitankapitels München (Library of the Munich Metropolitan Chapter) hold a total of 285 incunabula. bavarikon presents a selection of them here. The content ranges from theological, philosophical and legal to medical works.

The Regensburg Cathedral Choir’s performance books

The records from 1892 to 1968 provide a comprehensive insight into the activities and repertoire of the world-famous "Regensburger Domspatzen" boys’ choir.

Manuscripts from the Zisterzienserinnenabtei Seligenthal’s archive

The collection allows an insight into the 780-year history and culture of the convent and includes important pieces such as the "Necrologium Saeldentalense" (1319), the annals of the convent as well as works that served the practical needs of the convent administration and convent life, such as a pharmacy book and a kitchen book from 1742.

Post-war posters from Rosenheim, 1945-1948

The post-war posters from the Stadtarchiv Rosenheim (Rosenheim City Archive) are mainly made up of announcements by the city administration and military government on various matters. Occasional announcements were made by the state government, the Allied Control Council, the Military Court and the military government for Germany. The collection also contains political posters from the CSU, SPD and KPD parties with various political announcements.

Aventinus, Johannes: Works

The "father of Bavarian historiography" Johannes Turmair (1477-1534), known as Aventinus, wrote many other important works in addition to the "Bavarian Chronicle", which left a lasting mark on the image of Bavarian history.

City views of Eichstätt

The city views are part of the Universitätsbibliothek Eichstätt-Ingolstadt’s (University Library Eichstätt-Ingolstadt) graphic art collection. This collection comprises around 100,000 sheets. The depictions date from a period of more than 400 years. At the beginning there are woodcuts from Hartmann Schedel’s famous "world chronicle" (1493). The most recent view was produced around 1915.

Catalogues of the Art Exhibitions in the Munich Glaspalast 1869-1931

The catalogues document annual exhibitions and international art exhibitions that took place at the Munich Glaspalast from 1869-1931. This was destroyed by fire in 1931.

Regensburger Reichsstädtische Bibliothek (The Imperial City of Regensburg Library)

The Regensburg Council Library, first mentioned in the mid-14th century, is one of the earliest confirmed libraries of this type in Germany. In 1783, the Council Library was merged with the book collections from the Poeticum grammar school (since 1551) and the Protestant clergy to form the Imperial City of Regensburg Library.

The Counts of Toerring-Jettenbach`s music collection

The Toerring-Jettenbach noble family’s collection comprises music manuscripts and music prints from the period 1591 to 1820. It is considered to be a valuable source of the cultivation of music at the electoral and royal courts in Munich.

Greek manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) - Cod.graec.

Origenes, Plotin, Polybios – with over 650 Greek manuscripts, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) preserves the largest collection in the Federal Republic of Germany. The selection presented here includes manuscripts with theological content in addition to works by classical authors.

French manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) - Cod.gall.

The best-known French-language manuscripts in this collection include the "Munich Boccaccio" (Cod.gall. 6) and the "Psalter of Queen Isabella of England" (Cod.gall. 16). They are richly decorated with illuminations.

Italian manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) - Cod.ital.

The codices italici (Cod.ital.) comprise volumes from the 15th to 19th centuries and represent a rich source on the intellectual and cultural history of Italy and especially of the papacy in the 16th to 18th centuries.

Slavic manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) - Cod.slav.

The Codices slavici holdings include Slavic manuscripts from the 14th to 20th centuries in languages such as Russian Church Slavonic, Serbian Church Slavonic, Russian, Bulgarian, Polish or Czech. The majority of these are liturgical manuscripts.

Manuscripts in other European languages at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) has set up separate manuscript subjects for other European languages, which are presented here in one collection. Among the outstanding pieces is a late medieval gospel (Cod.hung. 1) in Hungarian.

Fragments from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek collection

Fragments are small pieces of text, some of which have been handed down incomplete, some of which have been left unfinished intentionally or unintentionally. The most common form of fragmentary tradition, however, is the reuse of individual sheets for new book bindings.

Manuscript library catalogues at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Cbm Cat.

The signature group of the Codices bavarici monacenses catalogi (Cbm Cat.) contains historical library catalogues from the Court and later State Library as well as numerous monastic and imperial city collections which were integrated into the Munich collection at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Hebrew manuscripts at the Bavarian State Library - Cod.hebr.

The collection of codices hebraici in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) is one of the largest and most important in the German-speaking area. The most important piece in the collection is the world-famous Baylonian Talmud (Cod.hebr. 95).

Arabic manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) - Cod.arab.

The Codices arabici collection comprises more than 3,100 Arabic manuscripts from the 9th to the 19th century with the prize pieces including magnificent Korans such as the Qurʾān (Koran) from Seville, the Gold Koran or, for example, a Koran in Kufic script. Its origins go back to the library belonging to the diplomat and Orientalist Johann Albrecht Widmanstetter (1506-1557).

Other oriental manuscripts from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek collection

This collection features Armenian (Cod.armen.), Persian (Cod.pers.) and Turkish (Cod.turc.) manuscripts, which are decorated with valuable calligraphic elements and miniatures and are among the top book art pieces.

East Asian manuscripts from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek collection

The collection shows, among other things, precious 17th century Japanese manuscripts from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek’s (Bavarian State Library) East Asian collection. This comprises some 3,250 manuscripts in Korean, Japanese, Nachi and Chinese.

Southeast Asian manuscripts from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek collection

The Southeast Asian collection at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) comprises over 4,000 manuscripts in the languages Batak, Burmese, Javanese and Balinese, Cambodian, Lampung, Laotian, Malay, Thai and Vietnamese as well as those of the Philippines. A small selection is presented in bavarikon.

Incunabula from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek collection

The Gutenberg Bible or Hartmann Schedel’s illustrated handwritten copy of his famous World Chronicle are important incunabula produced with movable type in the early days of printing (from 1450).

Lithographs at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Lithogr.

Lithographs, i.e. prints reproduced lithographically, from the so-called incunabula period of lithography from 1796 to 1821 as well as illustrated lithograph prints and plates up to 1846 are presented here.

Dance of death prints at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Im.mort.

In the 14th century, the dance of death was a popular motif on murals and monumental works, but also in handwritten books. These representations supplemented by verses became widely distributed with the invention of the printing press.

Block books at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Xylogr.

The collection of 49 block books (including fragments) is one of the largest in the world. Block books are among the rarest collection items in libraries. Block books are 15th century prints produced using the woodcut process. They represent a transitional form between the illuminated manuscript and the illustrated printed book.

Bibles and biblical books from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The collection presents magnificent Bibles, psalters, gospels, exegetical works and bible glossaries in various formats and languages, including the famous Ottheinrich Bible (Cgm 8010) or the Hungarian Hussite Bible (Cod.hung. 1).

Liturgical works from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Die Sammlung zeigt eine Auswahl an für den Gottesdienst bestimmter Handschriften, darunter zahlreiche kostbare und illuminierte Manuskripte aus dem Mittelalter wie Perikopenbücher, Lektionare, Sakramentare und Psalterien.

Prayer books and books of hours from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

This selection of important works shows the diversity of prayer books, devotional books and books of hours, which served religious devotion for all religions with their very different forms, languages and presentation.

Ascetic works from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

This collection presents manuscripts and prints dealing with asceticism, the doctrine of striving for Christian perfection, such as the Alsatian Legenda aurea from 1362, a magnificent collection of saints' legends.

Texts for remembrance of the dead from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Obituaries, mortuary rolls or dance of death prints reflect the memorial ritual of the Middle Ages from the memento mori of the Baroque period to the Ars moriendi of the late Middle Ages – shaped by the Christian understanding of death. Burial, veneration and commemoration of the deceased ancestors was already an integral part of the way early advanced civilisations dealt with death.

Religious texts from non-Christian cultures from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

bavarikon presents a number of sacred writings and texts from the field of non-Christian religions. These include magnificent Korans such as the Koran of Seville (Cod.arab. 1), Judaism writings such as the Babylonian Talmud (Cod.Hebr. 95), but also Buddhist texts such as the Tibetan Mahāmokṣa-sūtra (Cod.Tibet. 922).

Fencing books and war tracts from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The magnificently designed fencing books were mainly written in the 15th and 16th centuries and show the use of various weapons and fighting techniques in the late Middle Ages. They convey principles and tactics, describe positions and stances, defensive techniques, blows and complex sequences of techniques.

Nobility genealogies from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The genealogical collections of, for example, Johann M. W. v. Prey (1690-1747) or Eckher v. Kapfing (1649-1727) are important sources for family research and heraldry. They list members of Bavarian noble families.

Courtly Life - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The collection presents works on courtly culture. These include the epics by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Hartmann von Aue, tournament books, fencing books, aristocratic genealogies and magnificently decorated armorials. "Courtly" refers to the way of life cultivated at a princely court and, in a narrower sense, refers to the social culture of chivalry from the high Middle Ages onwards.

Astronomy, meteorology and mathematics - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

This collection presents selected manuscripts and prints on the three great related sciences of astronomy, meteorology and mathematics, including the Astronomicum Caesareum by Peter Apian, 1540.

Calendar research - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

In addition to calendar tables, images of the zodiac and the months were often part of liturgical manuscripts in the Middle Ages. Prominent examples in this collection are the Flemish Book of Hours (Clm 28345) and the monastic psalter by Leonhard Beck (Clm 4301).

Hermeticism (astrology, geomancy) - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The collection presents selected manuscripts and prints on astronomical events, constellations or the art of palmistry. In the Renaissance and modern period, hermeticism was understood to be occult philosophies, in particular alchemy, astrology, kabbalah, magic and all kinds of prophecies.

Botany - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The focus of this selection of botanical works is on plant books whose illustrations serve to identify plants and describe their healing properties.

Geography - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The manuscripts and prints presented here include descriptions of the earth, world maps, historical travelogues, city descriptions and views. They include such important works as Schedel’s World Chronicle or the town views by Bavaria’s first known cartographer Philipp Apian.

Medicine - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The collection provides an insight into the history of medicine. It contains such important works as the "Canon of Avicenna", Vesalius’ "De Corporis Humani structura" and the "Consilia" from Hartmann Schedel’s property (1440-1514).

Grammar, dialectics, rhetoric - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Grammar, rhetoric and dialectics formed part of the so-called Seven Liberal Arts (Septem artes liberales) in (late) antiquity and the Middle Ages. bavarikon presents some historical manuscripts and prints of the classical trivium here.

Theology and philosophy - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) holds a particularly large number of works dealing with theological and philosophical issues in its rich collection of manuscripts and printed works. These works provide impressive evidence of the intellectual life that flourished in the monasteries and monastic schools in the Middle Ages up to the time of the Enlightenment.

Scientific textbooks from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Textbooks are non-fiction books that offer didactically prepared teaching materials for (self-)study or teaching purposes. bavarikon presents examples from various disciplines and subject areas such as medicine, geometry, fireworks, metallurgy or divination.

Zoology - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Famous works from the field of zoology include Liber de natura rerum by Thomas von Cantimpré (Clm 3206) and the richly illuminated "Fürstenfelder Physiologus" (Clm 6908), which not only depicts existing animals in miniatures, but also mythical creatures such as the phoenix or the unicorn.

Classical authors from antiquity and the Middle Ages from the holding of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

This collection compiles prominent examples that form the canon of classical European literary history from the heroic epics "Iliad" and "Odyssey" ascribed to Homer to Vergil’s "Aeneid" and works by Wolfram von Eschenbach and Gottfried von Strasbourg.

Law and administration - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Manuscripts and prints on the subject of law and administration provide administrative and normative texts of the most varied kinds – for instance, deeds, trial records as well as administrative documents, decrees and laws – from various bodies, which could be of both a secular and ecclesiastical nature in the Middle Ages and the (early) modern period.

Architecture - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Magnificently designed drafts and plans as well as theoretical works on architecture, aesthetics and the art of building by famous architects such as Vitruvius, Sebastiano Serlio or Leo von Klenze from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek’s (Bavarian State Library) holdings are presented in this bavarikon collection.

Craftsmanship and technology - works from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Historical war machines, building fireworks, a knitting manual – this collection gathers works that have practical arts in the sense of craftsmanship or artistry as their theme.

The Nibelungenlied-Manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) is in possession of the presented manuscripts A (Cgm 34, UNESCO World Documentary Heritage) and D (Cgm 31) of this masterpiece about the life and death of the hero Siegfried and Kriemhild’s revenge on the Burgundians. The Nibelungenlied, written around 1200, is one of the best surviving texts of the German-speaking Middle Ages.

Kempten Monastery Chronicles

The "Kemptener Klosterchroniken" ascribed to Johannes Birk (c. 1449-1500) from Biberach are important testimonies to Kempten abbey’s self-image in the second half of the 15th century.

Fritz Koenig (1924-2017)

This collection shows works by the sculptor Fritz Koenig: sculptures, paper cuts, drawings and selected sculptures as 3D objects. Many of the pieces belong to the holdings of the KOENIGmuseum in Landshut.

The Collection of Letters of Christoph Jacob Trew

This compilation of correspondence from or to the Nuremberg physician and scientist Trew (1695-1769) is considered one of the world’s largest known collections of letters with a medical and scientific focus and, with its approximately 19,000 letters and drafts by 2,200 authors from the 16th to 18th centuries, represents a unique source for research in the history of science and art.

Early Recordings of Traditional and Popular Dance and Light Music

The selection of recordings offered in bavarikon from the Forschungsstelle für fränkische Volksmusik’s (Research Centre for Franconian Folk Music) archive provides an overview of music recordings of Franconian "peasant bands". These document specific regional styles and playing habits and show that music in the 20th century became part of everyday life through its audio-technical reproducibility and became available at any time, independent of beer tents and dance floors.

Manuscripts of Traditional and Popular Dance and Light Music from Franconia

The instrumental folk music of many regions in Franconia became tangible with the advent of dance music scores in the mid-19th century. The collection mainly focuses on them. The musical standard as well as instrumentation fashions and regional preferences are reflected by selected musical examples.

Baumann, Franz Ludwig: Geschichte des Allgäus und weitere Werke (History of the Allgäu and other Works)

The archivist and historian Franz Ludwig Baumann (1846-1915) wrote important basic works on the history of Bavarian Swabia, such as the monumental "History of the Allgäu". He was also the editor of numerous medieval sources and the author of academic treatises.

Bavaria. Regional studies and folklore of the kingdom of Bavaria.

The description of the Kingdom of Bavaria, initiated by King Maximilian II and published by Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl between 1860 and 1867, deals with the natural environment, folklore and history of Bavaria’s eight administrative districts and is regarded as a source of great importance because of its comprehensive account of housing, clothing, traditional costume, dialect, nutrition and legends.

Carmina Burana

The Carmina Burana (Clm 4660) found in Benediktbeuern Monastery is an outstanding testimony to Middle High German lyric poetry of the early 13th century. It is one of the most famous and valuable manuscripts in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library). It became famous through Carl Orff’s (1895-1982) setting to music.

Kunstdenkmäler von Bayern – Bavarian Monuments of Art

The series "Kunstdenkmäler von Bayern" (Art Monuments of Bavaria) represents the first inventory of monuments to cover Bavaria in its entirety. They were published in 147 volumes between 1895 and 1975 and are accompanied by numerous photographs and plans.

Orbis Latinus (Großausgabe/full edition, 1972)

The Orbis latinus is the most comprehensive index of Latin place names from antiquity to modern times. The large edition of the 4th edition prepared by Helmut Plechl (born 1920), which appeared in three volumes in 1972, multiplied the vocabulary and primarily established the work as an indispensable reference work for historical studies.

Bayerisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt – Bavarian Law and Ordinance Gazette (1945-1949)

All laws and the most important ordinances enacted by the Bavarian Landtag and the Bavarian government between 1945-1949 are published in the Bayerisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt.

Territorial Estates of the Late Middle Ages and of the Early Modern Period

The digitised minutes of the negotiations on the Bavarian estates in the late Middle Ages and early modern period constitute a comprehensive source material that provides numerous clues to the history of Bavaria’s political and social elite as well as to the history of individual places in the state.

Schmeller, Johann Andreas: Bayerisches Wörterbuch (Bavarian Dictionary)

The linguist and librarian Johann Andreas Schmeller (1785-1852) was one of the most important dialect researchers of the 19th century. His "Bayerisches Wörterbuch" is conceived as a dialect dictionary of the entire Kingdom of Bavaria at that time.

Luxurious furniture from Bavarian castles

The Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung (Bavarian Department of State-owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes) has one of the world’s most important collections of furniture from the 16th to 19th centuries. It is not only of the highest cultural and historical interest for the depiction of domestic culture and court ceremonials at the princely courts in Bavaria, but also for the illustration of achievements in the history of technology and crafts.

Music manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Mus.ms.

The more than 300 digitised music manuscripts presented here contain mainly monophonic music up to the year 1500, including the magnificent manuscripts of the "Bußpsalmen" by Orlando di Lasso made by Hans Mielich.

Rariora, reserve and parchment prints at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Rare and precious prints have been kept in a separate subject as "rariora" since the 19th century. They include magnificent pieces such as the Luther Bible or Maximilian I’s prayer book. The rariora were replaced by the "Rare prints reserve" subject in 1990.

Treasures from the Stadtmuseum Ingolstadt

The collection shows objects relating to Ingolstadt’s history from its beginnings to the present day. Important focal points are the finds from the Celtic town near Manching, Romanesque and Gothic stone sculpture, medieval urban development, the coin cabinet or craftsmanship and industry.

Late-Mediaeval Manuscripts from Saint Gumbertus Abbey

The Latin manuscripts now in the possession of the Schlossbibliothek Ansbach (State Library Ansbach) include historical, legal and astronomical, but above all theological works from the pre-Reformation period that are significant for the region’s history and provide a good insight into the book holdings of the Franconian clergy at the end of the Middle Ages.

Jesuit Dramas from the Sphere of Dillingen University

The plays presented here were written between 1578 and 1625 for important church festivities and are significant sources on the Jesuits and the university in Dillingen.

Sources about the History of Dillingen University

The documents shown here from the Studienbibliothek Dillingen (Dillingen Research Library) provide an insight into the history of the University of Dillingen, its teaching staff and students, university teaching procedures and administrative practices.

Mediaeval and Early Modern Manuscripts from the Provinzialbibliothek Neuburg an der Donau

The collection presents more than 100 theological, medical or scientific manuscripts, including codices from Kaisheim, founded in 1135 and one of the oldest Cistercian monasteries in what is now Bavaria.

Musical Treasures of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Autographs of great composers such as Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven, handwritten choir books from the Renaissance period, tablature books such as the Buxheim Organ Book as well as printed music from the early days of music printing – this collection provides an insight into the holdings of one of the leading international music libraries.

Splendour on Parchment

The manuscripts on display here are among the greatest cultural and artistic achievements of medieval book art from 780 to 1180 and are at the same time regarded as the earliest and most valuable evidence of German book illumination from Carolingian through Ottonian art to the Romanesque period.

Treasures in the Staatliche Bibliothek Passau

A first print of Copernicus’ main work "De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium", the Formbach Bible and the Formbach Missal from the 15th century – the selection of magnificent items from the Staatliche Bibliothek Passau holdings reflects the history and profile of this institution.

Medieval Coins from Bavaria

The development of continuous independent coinage by the Dukes of Bavaria began with a coin of Duke Arnulf I the Wicked (died 937, Duke from 907) from Regensburg. While regional, small-scale currency areas predominated from 1125-1250, larger currency areas emerged in the late Middle Ages through mergers of individual rulers with the authority to mint.

Premises of the Perpetual Diet in the Old Ratisbon Town Hall

Regensburg was designated the sole meeting place for the Perpetual Diet and the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation in 1594. The collection of prints, books and photos on display here from the Historisches Museum’s (Historical Museum) collection provides an insight into the history of the Perpetual Diet and the building.

Albrecht Altdorfer and his Ratisbon Workshop

The printed works by Regensburg’s most important Renaissance artist are presented here together with works by Hans Mielich and Michael Ostendorfer.

Paper money in Bavaria

The Giesecke+Devrient Stiftung Geldscheinsammlung (Giesecke+Devrient foundation: collection of bank notes) presents banknotes from Bavaria from 1836 to 1935, documenting how the state of Bavaria’s currency, economy and self-image developed. Emergency money is an important part of Bavaria’s monetary history alongside the issues by the central banks and the state.

Coins of the Ancient World

This selection of ancient coins from the Staatliche Münzsammlung (State Coin Collection) holdings provides an overview of how coinage developed and spread. The first coins were minted around 630 BC in the Lydia-Phrygia region, in what is now western Turkey.

Ancient Craftwork and Applied Works of Art

In this collection, the Staatliche Antikensammlungen (State Collections of Antiquities and Sculpture Gallery) present Greek, Etruscan and Roman masterpieces of vase art, painting and small-scale sculpture in bronze, wood or terracotta – in distinction to the "great" art of architecture, sculpture and painting.

Greek and Roman Sculptures

The selection of Greek and Roman marble statues presented in bavarikon from the holdings of the Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek (State Collections of Antiquities and Sculpture Gallery) in Munich aims to give the viewer an insight into the art of ancient sculpture with 3D models and high-resolution images.

digiPress – The Newspaper Portal of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

digiPress is the central virtual reading room for the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek’s (Bavarian State Library) historical, digitised newspapers. The newspapers can be searched in full text and sorted by place of distribution. A calendar overview lets you start by entering dates to display cross-title results.

Archaeological Findings from the Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Major archaeological discoveries from the Stone Age through the Roman period to modern times are presented in high-resolution photographs and as spectacular 3D objects.

„The Treasure of Sheet Music held by Müllner Peter“ – The Sachrang Musical Collection

The owner of the Müllner (miller) farm in Aschach near Sachrang, Peter Huber (1766-1843), was committed to the preservation of church music in his village and compiled a rich repertoire of church music works, mostly copied by himself, consisting of more than 300 manuscripts and printed works. These are now in the holdings of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) and the Müllner-Peter Museum.

Renaissance Medals

The art of the Renaissance is also reflected in the medals from the Staatliche Münzsammlung (State Coin Collection) holdings. These are often portrait medals, which were primarily used for self-portrayal or to honour the subject. It was only in the course of the 16th century that themed medals were increasingly produced.

‘Luther’s Fortress’. Martin Luther and the Reformation at the Veste Coburg and in its art collections

Martin Luther (1483-1546) resided at Veste Coburg in 1530. The Veste became one of the most important memorial sites with its Luther Room, a "Reformer’s Room", the Luther Library belonging to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) and an extensive collection on Luther and the Reformation.

Papal Coins and Medals from Twelve Centuries

Hadrian I (772-795) was the first pope to have coins minted. The earliest papal coin to be included in the Staatliche Münzsammlung (State Coin Collection) is a denarius of Pope Eugenius II (824-827). The other pieces show a cross-section of papal coinage.

Protestant Reverse Glass Paintings

The extraordinary collection from the Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren (Kaufbeuren Municipal Museum) shows almost 80 reverse glass paintings, which were created between 1740 and 1790 in the former imperial city and feature Protestant iconography.

German manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) – Cgm

The collection of German-language manuscripts (Codices germanici monacenses) comprises around 13,000 manuscripts from the 9th century to the present day, including such important works as manuscript A of the “Nibelungenlied” (Cgm 34) and modern autographs of famous personalities such as Adalbert Stifter, Jean Paul or Ernst Toller.

Latin manuscripts at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) - Clm

The "Codex aureus von St. Emmeram" and the "Evangeliar Kaiser Otto III" are the most famous Latin codices from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek’s (Bavarian State Library) most extensive and probably also most important collection of Western manuscripts.

Personal papers and estates held by the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The collection shows the digitised estates of important personalities in Bavaria and Munich’s political and cultural history, such as Paul Heyse, Heinz Piontek or Therese von Bayern. The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) houses one of the largest collections of estates in the German-speaking world.

Chronicles, historical works and sources from the holdings of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

Chronicles, like the Swabian Chronicle (Cgm 436) and Jan Enikel’s World Chronicle (Cgm 250) presented here, are important works of passing down history, reference works and sources in which the chronological sequence of events plays a special part.

Hortus Eystettensis

One of the most famous plant books ever is the richly illustrated "Hortus Eystettensis" by the Nuremberg apothecary and botanist Basilius Besler from 1613. The magnificent volumes are presented here as high-resolution digital copies.

Everyday Culture in Bavaria in the early twentieth century: The “survey” of the Bayerischer Verein für Volkskunst und Volkskunde, 1908/09

The folkloristic survey sheds light on aspects of everyday life as well as the general population’s beliefs and values. Teachers and clergymen, among others, answer questions about customs, food, clothing, housing, faith, folk poetry or dialect in their region.

Treasures from the Collections of the Deutsches Medizinhistorisches Museum

3D objects from the Deutsches Medizinhistorisches Museum (German Museum of Medical History) in Ingolstadt are presented, including exciting medical products such as a phlebotomy lancet, an Etruscan terracotta torso with depicted internal organs or the extremely pictorial representation of a toothworm, which was still considered to be the cause of tooth cavities until the 18th century.

The Historisches Lexikon Bayerns

The Historische Lexikon Bayerns (Historical Encyclopaedia of Bavaria) is an exclusively online, constantly expanding encyclopaedia on the history of Bavaria and is regarded as the central scholarly reference work on all questions of Bavarian, Franconian, Swabian and Palatine regional history from the beginnings to the present day.

State ministers, leading administrative officials and (NS-) functionaries in Bavaria, 1918 to 1945

The database provides short biographies of the office holders of almost all branches of the Bavarian state administration between November 1918 and May 1945 – from the Minister-President to the directors of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library). The database was designed and compiled by Joachim Lilla.

The Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek

The picture archive presents photographs from estates, photo archives and libraries focusing on Bavaria, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and other topics such as music, the Orient, Asia and Eastern Europe. Initially founded in 1985 as a portrait collection, the picture archive is one of the largest picture collections in public institutions.

The Ortsdatenbank Bayern

The location database contains over 90,000 entries on towns, municipalities, districts and other administrative units as well as forests, bodies of water and mountains in Bavaria, where not only Bavaria’s current topography and administrative divisions are mapped, but also its historical relationships between 1875 and 1978.

The Bayerische Bibliographie

The Bayerische Bibliographie lists all German and foreign-language publications related to Bavaria as fully as possible since 1988, and in some cases earlier. It is a joint project by the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) with several university and state libraries.

The Library of the Princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein

The collection presents a selection of digitised manuscripts from the important library of the Princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein, which was acquired by the Free State of Bavaria in 1980 and whose holdings are now kept in the Universitätsbibliothek Augsburg (University Library Augsburg).

The Cimelia Holdings of the Universitätsbibliothek München

bavarikon presents particularly valuable works from the university library holdings, such as the Moosburg Gradual, the Ingolstadt Songbook and the House Book of Michael de Leone.

Paintings Collection of the Historischer Verein von Oberbayern

The collection includes works from the extensive estate of Johann Georg von Dillis (1759-1841), the Bavarian town views by Carl August Lebschée (1800-1877) as well as a large number of drawings, prints and photographs on topographical themes, events and people.

The Portfolio of Prints and Drawings Referring to Baroque Theatre, Stage and Festival Culture

The Deutsches Theatermuseum (German Theatre Museum) owns an extensive collection of drawings and prints depicting Baroque theatre and festive culture, including stage decoration and scene designs, costume and type pictures, portraits of roles and civilians as well as views of theatre buildings, venues and theatrical machinery.

Luther Holdings of the Landesbibliothek Coburg

The Landesbibliothek Coburg (Regional Library Coburg) holdings contain important writings by Martin Luther (1483-1546), including his translation of the Bible published in 1534. The Luther Library was established by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) to commemorate Martin Luther’s stay at Veste Coburg in 1530.

Collection Cimelia-Autographs

The collection shows letters and writings by famous writers and literary figures such as Melanchthon, von Hofmannsthal, Lessing, Kleist, Voltaire, Tolstoy or Goethe and other valuable individual items written by important personalities from history, art or science.

The Archiv für Hausforschung

Around 12,000 plans and 19,000 photos document rural buildings in Bavaria, the Rhineland Palatinate, Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic as they survived into the 20th century and provide information about the architecture, building design and use of the working and living spaces.

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the International Connections of the Ruling House of the Duchy of Coburg

Prince Albert, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria of England, is the most prominent representative of the Coburg ducal house, which has been able to successfully pursue an international marriage policy for generations since the end of the 18th century. There are family relationships with the courts in Belgium, England and Sweden that still rule today.

Bosls Bayerische Biographie (Bavarian Biography and Supplement)

Karl Bosl (1908-1993), probably Bavaria’s best-known regional historian, wrote numerous works on the history of Bavaria as well as the "Bayerische Biographie", which provides a quick overview of the biographical data and life stories of individual personalities in Bavarian history from the fields of economics, politics, society, science and art with lexical entries.

The castles and fortresses of the Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen

Neuschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee, Linderhof – the collection offers a photographic insight into the most beautiful and famous castles and palaces in Bavaria. It shows views of the buildings, gardens and interiors, including furniture and fittings.

Image Database „Auf dem Land“

The Haus der bayerischen Geschichte (Centre of Bavarian History) picture archive portrays the history of agriculture in Bavaria, the development of farming methods as well as rural customs, popular festivities and leisure activities.

Books on Bavaria

The Bavarica collection from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library) and the regional state libraries comprises almost all publications issued in Bavaria in the early modern period and the 19th century, as well as all publications with a Bavarian connection worldwide, and is thus unique in its scope and completeness. The service makes it possible to search 78,000 full texts.

The Literaturportal Bayern

The Literaturportal Bayern (Bavarian Literature Portal) provides a comprehensive overview of the literary state of Bavaria, authors and literary events and offers information on literary institutions, prizes, bequests, a calendar of events and much more.