Between the castle backdrop and the underground treasure chamber, the Saar Historical Museum explores the history of the Saarland - from the castle complex through wartime to the present day.
The Saar Historical Museum on Schlossplatz in Saarbrücken - designed by Gottfried Böhm - is far more than just an ordinary regional museum: with its iconic glass-roofed building, it forms a modern counterpoint to the baroque Saarbrücken Palace. The majority of the 2,700 m² exhibition space is underground. Visitors can stroll through the development of the Saarland from the German Empire through the World Wars to the post-war period. There is a special focus on the path from the medieval castle through Renaissance and fortifications to today's palace complex. The original Gestapo cells and the accessible casemates deep below the castle square are also historically significant and serve as a memorial to dark chapters of history.
The permanent exhibition presents core themes of Saarland's history - political upheavals, the economy, everyday life and industry - in an appealing mix of everyday objects, artistic documents and interactive installations. Special exhibitions, such as the recent "ILLEGAL - Street Art Graffiti 1960-1995", show how the museum also interweaves current and controversial topics with its regional collection.
