The Museum of the Palatinate is one of the great cultural institutions of the city of Heidelberg.
Directly behind the baroque archway of the Palais Morass, the ancestral home, a journey through time awaits: from prehistoric and early historical finds in the Archaeology Department, to the beautifully furnished period rooms of the Palais, and the works of great 19th- and 20th-century artists in the Picture Gallery. Unique collections in the areas of paintings, graphics, sculptures, arts and crafts, archaeology, and city history offer fascinating insights into art and cultural history.
The extensive collection of Frankenthal porcelain and the spectacular silverware of the last Electress, Elisabeth Augusta, reflect the glamorous court life in the Electoral Palatinate of the 18th century. These treasures are complemented by paintings of prominent figures from the Electoral Palatinate. Among them is Gerrit van Honthorst's portrait of the "Winter King" Frederick V with his wife Elizabeth Stuart, alongside portraits of Liselotte of the Palatinate and the court jester Perkeo. An extensive collection of Dutch paintings and works from the Heidelberg Romantic period are further highlights of the collection.
On two floors, the Archaeological Department showcases its vast holdings, which span millennia. From the Palaeolithic era with the lower jaw of Homo heidelbergensis, to the days of the Electoral Palatinate, the eventful history of Heidelberg is documented. The largest section is dedicated to the Roman period, but visitors also gain vivid insights into early medieval society through a wealth of Alemannic/Franconian jewellery, weapons, and tableware. A separate room is dedicated to the most important cultural monument in North Baden, the Heiligenberg.
