Migration has always been an important part of European history and continues to be an issue of great significance today. The Danube Swabians are a German minority in Eastern Europe, whose ancestors emigrated to Hungary in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Danube Swabian Museum in Ulm is not only dedicated to their history and culture, but also explores the enduring relevance of questions around migration and integration, cultural diversity and inter-ethnic coexistence, as well as the loss of homeland and cultures of remembrance.
European migration history at the museum: In the 18th and 19th centuries, thousands of people from various German regions emigrated to Southeast Europe. The Danube Swabian Museum tells the stories of these emigrants and their descendants, the so-called Danube Swabians – how peaceful coexistence with other peoples functioned, but also how nationalism and the Second World War led to the loss of their homeland. The exhibition "Danube Swabians. Departures and Encounters" at the Danube Swabian Central Museum explores these topics with around 950 square meters of exhibition space.
A second tour entitled "Danube. River Stories" invites visitors on a journey of discovery along the Danube – a great European river and eponym for the Danube Swabians. Here, 22 stories tell of life on and with the river. Encounters with fishermen, travelers, fugitives, conservationists, animals and river deities offer up-close and personal experiences of the diversity of life and nature around the Danube.
A second tour entitled "Danube. River Stories" invites visitors on a journey of discovery along the Danube – a great European river and eponym for the Danube Swabians. Here, 22 stories tell of life on and with the river. Encounters with fishermen, travelers, fugitives, conservationists, animals and river deities offer up-close and personal experiences of the diversity of life and nature around the Danube.
An extensive collection of everyday objects, photographs, eyewitness accounts, documents and works of art from more than three centuries form the heart of the museum. Around 50,000 objects are in storage, a small selection of which can be seen in the permanent exhibitions. Many of these items seem unremarkable at first glance, but on closer inspection they reveal amazing stories.
The museum offers a wide range of programs and activities for school groups, children and families, adults and senior citizens. These include guided tours, museum education programs, children's birthdays, readings, concerts, lectures, discussion groups and talks by experts.
