The Ittingen Museum is one of six cantonal museums in Thurgau. It was established in 1983 by Dr. Margrit Früh, then curator of the Thurgau Historical Museum, in Ittingen Charterhouse to make the almost completely preserved monastery complex accessible to the public.
The most important "exhibit" of the Ittingen Museum is the building itself. The integrally preserved living quarters of the monks with their art-historically valuable furnishings provide a direct insight into the way of life and thinking of the former inhabitants. This must be conveyed, and the preservation and enhancement of this authentic local experience is a top priority. The particular challenge in the refurbishment of the Ittingen Museum in 2008/2009 was therefore to stage the transfer of knowledge in such a way that the original furnishings and spatial structures were not impaired by the introduction of information. In order to achieve this goal, a radical mediation concept was developed that reduces written information in the rooms to a minimum and concentrates visible mediation offers on a few areas. As a result, the most important rooms of the Charterhouse - the church, the cloisters and the refectory - remain largely untouched by mediation interventions. In other rooms, such as the former cellar, the winter refectory or one of the monks' cells, concentrated small exhibitions have been created, which are dedicated to precisely defined topics.
The monks' cell focuses on the work of the monks and the principle of "ora et labora". The presentation in the winter refectory is dedicated to the founder of the order, Bruno, and the history of the Carthusian monks. In the cellar, views of the Charterhouse, a screen animation showing the structural changes and a model explain the history and function of the buildings at Ittingen Charterhouse. In order to increase the attractiveness of the presentation, the exhibits have been specifically expanded to include outstanding exhibits. For example, an original volume of the Ittingen Urbar can be seen in the former procurator's office and one of the most valuable goldsmith's works in the region, the Ittingen presentation cross, is on display in the sacristy.
Thanks to sophisticated display case technology, the presentation of such delicate and valuable objects is also possible in the historical rooms, whose climatic conditions do not meet museum standards. The presentation has been made even more attractive by the installation of state-of-the-art screen presentations. In the room next to the original urbarium, visitors can virtually leaf through the old book on a touchscreen while a voice reads out excerpts from the text.
Throughout the museum there are simple information desks that briefly contain the main information on the respective rooms. People who want to know more will find references to the audio guide on these desks, which can be used to call up more detailed information.
Thurgau minds - A banker's son plows up
The exhibition is dedicated to Victor Fehr (1846-1938), who acquired Ittingen Charterhouse in 1867 and lived in the former monastery for seven decades. With great ambition, the young lord of the manor built up a modern, mechanized farm in Ittingen. Throughout his life, Fehr was active in agricultural organizations and agricultural education. He used the opulent state rooms of the former charterhouse as a residence befitting his rank and thus made a significant contribution to its preservation. The exhibition presents the rich life of Victor Fehr in photographs, paintings, texts and exhibits.
until December 19, 2021
Permanent exhibition
The exhibition vividly illustrates the enormous importance of water for the former Carthusian monastery in Ittingen. In addition to a detailed explanation of wastewater drainage and the use of hydropower both inside and outside the monastery walls, visitors can learn fascinating details about the drinking water supply and the liturgical significance of water.
