{Germany} Museum Knoblauchhaus

I was going to share another of our Scottish visits with you today, but I haven’t quite got round to processing the rest of my photos – it’s been so darn hot here in Berlin this week, I’ve just been lying in a cool dark room trying not to melt… So instead I’m sharing another great discovery from Berlin instead.

Although the Museum Knoblauchhaus may sound like a museum all about garlic (Knoblauch being German for that rather pungent bulb) – and with museums about sausages and sugar in Berlin, it wouldn’t be too surprising – it is in fact named after the Knoblauch family that used to live there. Dating back to the mid 18th century, it is one of the few middle-class residences in Berlin still remaining on its original site, and opened as the museum in 1989. The museum’s focus is home decor during the “Biedermeier” period (early 19th century), and the first floor shows rooms authentically furnished with an inventory of period furniture, china, paintings, photographs and other items gifted or given on long term loan to the museum by the Knoblauch family, who sold the house to the city of Berlin in 1929. The room settings are just gorgeous, see for yourselves!

A spiral staircase takes you to the second floor, where another room setting as well as further displays including family papers, toys, and other personal items – such as an early exercise bike – continue to tell the story of the Knoblauch family. The museum is located in the beautiful historic “Nikolaiviertel” (Berlin’s historic quarter) and is open daily except for Mondays. Admission is free. More details on opening times and public transport connections can be found on the museum’s website.