The volcanic eruption
that petrified Chemnitz
A journey into the history of the earth
Chemnitz -
the home of the fossil
How a city reveals secrets about the whole world
Where Chemnitz stands today, there used to be a volcano that 291 million years ago broke out.
This created a huge cloud of ash that buried the tropical forest around the volcano and petrified animals and plants. This unique Petrified forest today lies just a few meters below the surface of the city of Chemnitz. The forest's fossils fascinate scientists from all over the world and tell us which plants and animals lived millions of years ago.
This vertebrate lived 291 million years ago and has so far only been found in Chemnitz.
The Chemnitz Lurch
Chemnitzion richteri
Jogi and Birgit lived 291 million years ago and were buried by ash during the volcanic eruption in the Love Dance.
The fossilized
Scorpio love couple
Opsieobuthus tungeri
This subtropical tree belongs to the now completely extinct group of ferns and was able to store huge amounts of water.
The shower of the forest
Medullosa stelata
330 million years ago, Chemnitz was almost on the equator. The rivers in the area were home to sharks that laid their eggs here.
The shark egg far away
from the ocean
Fayolia sterzeliana
Look over the shoulders of researchers
How stones tell the story of the earth
The animals and plants trapped in the volcanic ash were fossilized. These are the fossils that we are gradually rediscovering today and that tell us what the world looked like at the time of the volcanic eruption.
Incidentally, the word "fossil" was coined by the mayor of Chemnitz, Georgius Agricola, and is now a common term worldwide and internationally.
Understanding the history of the earth
Exhibition
The heart of our museum is the exhibition in the city center of Chemnitz. Here we introduce you to the secrets we have already uncovered. In the Sterzeleanum, life-size models of plants and animals show you what Chemnitz looked like millions of years ago. You can also see and, in some cases, touch real fossils from the Chemnitz Petrified Forest.
It also houses our insectarium, our natural science collection and special exhibitions on changing themes relating to the history of the earth, flora and fauna.
Location: DAStietz, Moritzstraße 20, Chemnitz
Open daily except Wednesdays
Digging up fossils
Excavation site
There is an active excavation in the middle of Chemnitz where scientists are uncovering fossils piece by piece. Here you can find out how an excavation works and take a look beneath the earth's surface.
Location: Window into the history of the earth, Glockenstraße 16, Chemnitz
Preparing fossils
Fossil workshop
After excavation, the fossils are carefully cleaned, prepared and examined. This is done in our fossil workshop. Here you will soon be able to see how such a preparation is carried out and join in the puzzling over which animal or plant the fossils probably belong to.
Location: Stadtwirtschaft, Jakobstraße 46, Chemnitz
A journey through time for the whole family
At the Museum of Natural History, you go on a journey into the past - and underground. Our exhibition is an experience for the whole family: interactive stations and vivid exhibits bring the history of the volcano closer to even the youngest visitors. Older children, parents and grandparents can also follow in the footsteps of the mystery beneath Chemnitz in the museum and discover interesting details about the world hundreds of millions of years ago.
Suitable from
2 years
Knowledge for the whole family
Free admission
for children
Easily accessible by car and public transport
Duration of visit
1-3 hrs.
Events & promotions
Opening hours
Exhibition:
-
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 09:00 - 17:00
-
Saturday, Sunday, public holiday 10:00 - 18:00
-
Wednesday closed (except on public holidays)
-
New Year (01.01.), Labor Day (01.05.) Open
-
Day of Repentance and Prayer Open
-
Christmas Eve (24.12.), New Year's Eve (31.12.) Closed
Excavation site:
-
Monday 09:00 - 17:00
-
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Fossil workshop:
-
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Tickets
Tickets are available during opening hours in the museum store or via our ticket store:
Admission prices
Individual visitors:
-
Adults 4,00 €
-
Reduced 2,50 €
Pupils/vocational school pupils with ID (from 19 years) and students
(not TU Chemnitz, from 19 years), severely disabled persons
Groups (from 10 persons):
-
Adults 3,00 €
-
Supervisors (10 persons each) free
Admission is free for:
Children and young people (up to 18 years)
Students of the TU Chemnitz
Chemnitz Pass holders, Thank You Card holders
Contact us
Do you have a question about our locations or would you like to register a group? Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Approach
Museum of Natural History Chemnitz
DAStietz
Moritzstrasse 20
09111 Chemnitz
Stop: Zentralhaltestelle
Excavation site
Window into the history of the earth
Glockenstrasse 16
09130 Chemnitz
Stop: Chemnitz, Dresdner Platz
Fossil workshop
City economy
Jakobstrasse 46
09130 Chemnitz
Stop: Chemnitz, Jakobstr
We are rebuilding!
We are gradually redesigning our website to make it easier for our visitors to find their way around. Are you looking for specific information? You will find it as usual on the old website:
