Rieskrater Museum, Nördlingen
Museum in Nördlingen
The Rieskrater Museum in Nördlingen is where geology, astronomy and local history all collide - quite literally. Housed in the heart of this circular medieval town, the museum explains how a huge meteorite slammed into southern Germany around 15 million years ago, forming the Ries crater and shaping the landscape you see today. Inside, you find impact rocks, meteorites, fossils and interactive displays that make complex science easy to grasp, whether you are a casual visitor or a dedicated space and geology fan. It is one of the top attractions in Nördlingen if you want to understand why this pretty walled town looks the way it does.
Spread across engaging galleries, the museum takes you from the moment of impact through the long geological story that followed, and then out into the wider universe via its planetarium shows. Families love the hands-on elements that encourage kids to touch, compare and experiment, while older visitors appreciate the depth of information on impact craters and planetary science. Combined with the town walls, Kirchturm Daniel and the Nördlingen City Museum, the Rieskrater Museum is a highlight of any walking tour of Nördlingen because it gives you the scientific backdrop to everything you see outside.
Table of Contents
- History and Significance of the Rieskrater Museum
- Things to See and Do in the Rieskrater Museum
- How to Get to the Rieskrater Museum
- Practical Tips on Visiting the Rieskrater Museum
- Where to Stay close to the Rieskrater Museum
- Is the Rieskrater Museum Worth Visiting
- FAQs for Visiting Rieskrater Museum
- Nearby Attractions to the Rieskrater Museum
History and Significance of the Rieskrater Museum
The Rieskrater Museum was created to interpret one of Europe's most important impact structures: the Nördlingen Ries crater. For a long time, geologists debated whether the Ries basin was volcanic or the result of a meteorite strike. Detailed research in the 20th century, including the discovery of shocked quartz and impact melt rocks, finally confirmed that a massive meteorite had hit this area about 15 million years ago, releasing enormous energy and carving out the characteristic bowl-shaped landscape.
Nördlingen sits right in the middle of that crater, built from stone quarried out of impact breccias that still contain tiny diamonds formed by the shock wave. The museum's mission is to explain this extraordinary origin to visitors and to show how the crater has influenced everything from the region's geology and soils to its settlement patterns and economic history. By combining local stories with global science, it turns a single event in deep time into something that feels relevant and tangible.
Beyond the Ries itself, the museum also places the crater in the broader context of impact research and planetary geology. Exhibits compare the Ries with other impact sites around the world, highlight the role of meteorites in shaping planetary surfaces and explore what craters can tell us about Earth's past and the risks and opportunities of impacts today. This makes the Rieskrater Museum not just a local museum, but a window into how scientists study Earth and the solar system.
Things to See and Do in the Rieskrater Museum
The main exhibition galleries guide you step by step through the story of the Ries crater. Large-scale diagrams and models show how the meteorite approached, struck and reshaped the landscape, while displays of impact rocks - suevite, breccias and shocked quartz - let you see and touch the evidence for yourself. Panels explain how these rocks differ from ordinary volcanic material and why they were so important in proving the impact origin of the crater.
A major highlight is the collection of meteorites and impact minerals from the Ries and from other craters around the world. These specimens range from small iron meteorites to fragments rich in unusual minerals formed at extreme pressures and temperatures. Fossils and geological specimens round out the picture, showing how life and landscapes changed in the millions of years after the impact.
The museum’s planetarium is another key attraction. Here you can sit back and watch shows that take you from the Ries crater out into the wider universe, exploring topics such as the solar system, galaxies, and how impacts have shaped not just Earth but other planets and moons. The immersive dome adds drama to the storytelling, making it especially appealing for families and school groups.
Interactive exhibits and educational stations are scattered throughout the museum, inviting visitors of all ages to experiment with models, test their knowledge and explore how craters form. Simple hands-on activities help explain concepts like energy release, shock waves and crater morphology. For those who want to go deeper, the museum often offers guided tours and educational programmes tailored to schools, geology clubs and other groups, turning a visit into a structured learning experience rather than just a quick look at display cases.
How to Get to the Rieskrater Museum
For international visitors, the most convenient major gateway is Munich Airport, which offers extensive European and long-haul connections and makes a practical starting point for exploring Bavaria. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Nördlingen on Booking.com. From there, you can continue by train or car to Nördlingen.
By train, regional services link Nördlingen with cities such as Munich, Augsburg and Aalen, usually with one or more changes depending on your route.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio. Nördlingen’s station lies just outside the medieval walls, and from there it is a pleasant walk through the old town to the museum in the historic centre.
If you are travelling by car, you can reach Nördlingen via major roads such as the A7 motorway and regional routes like the B25 and B466, following signs into the town and towards public car parks near the city walls.If you are looking to rent a car in Germany I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you. Once parked, it is only a short stroll through cobbled streets to the Rieskrater Museum, which you can easily combine with climbs up Kirchturm Daniel and a walk around the town walls.
Practical Tips on Visiting the Rieskrater Museum
- Suggested tips: Start your Nördlingen visit here or soon after arrival; understanding the crater and its geology makes the town walls, tower and landscape much more interesting.
- Best time to visit: The museum is enjoyable year-round and is especially useful on wet or very hot days when you want an indoor attraction; mid-morning or mid-afternoon visits often feel less rushed.
- Entrance fee: Adult €5.00 Children €2.00
- Opening hours: 04/01/2023 – 11/05/2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m 11/07/2023 to 03/22/2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m English audio guide available.
- Official website: https://www.rieskrater-museum.de/
- How long to spend: Plan 1.5-2 hours for the exhibits and planetarium, longer if you are particularly interested in geology or want to read everything in detail.
- Accessibility: The museum is arranged over several levels; check in advance for lift access and barrier-free routes if you have mobility needs, and allow extra time for moving between floors.
- Facilities: Expect a reception desk, toilets, possibly a small shop or book corner and nearby cafés and restaurants in the surrounding old town for pre- or post-visit refreshments.
- Photography tip: Focus on close-ups of impact rocks, meteorites and models rather than wide shots; always respect any no-flash or no-photography signs, especially inside the planetarium.
- Guided tours: Consider joining a guided tour or school-style programme if available; expert explanations can make complex geological concepts easier to follow and bring the Ries crater story vividly to life.
- Nearby food options: After your visit, step out into the historic centre around the museum for bakeries, cafés and traditional restaurants, where you can discuss the exhibits over coffee or a meal.
Where to Stay close to the Rieskrater Museum
Because the Rieskrater Museum sits within Nördlingen's medieval centre, staying inside or just outside the town walls makes visiting very straightforward. For a comfortable and central base, NH Klösterle Nördlingen offers modern amenities in a historic setting within easy walking distance of the museum, Kirchturm Daniel and the town walls. A family-friendly choice is JUFA Hotel Nördlingen, which is close to the circular old town and works well if you are travelling with children keen on the planetarium and interactive exhibits. If you prefer a more intimate, traditional stay, Hotel Goldene Rose places you in a characterful building just a short stroll from the museum and other key sights.
Is the Rieskrater Museum Worth Visiting
If you have even a passing interest in space, geology or how landscapes are formed, the Rieskrater Museum is definitely worth visiting. It takes the abstract idea of a meteorite impact and turns it into something you can see, touch and understand, all while connecting it directly to the streets you walk in Nördlingen. The combination of impact rocks, meteorites, fossils and a planetarium makes it engaging for both adults and children, and the focus on the local Ries crater gives the museum a clear, memorable story. For many travellers, it becomes one of the best places to visit in Nördlingen because it explains why this charming walled town exists where it does and why its surroundings look so distinctive.
What Other Travellers Say...
Rieskrater Museum at Eugene-Shoemaker-Platz 1 focuses on the Nördlingen crater, with exhibits about the meteorite impact, local geology and stone finds and artifacts including a moon rock; visitors say the displays offer a compact, engaging introduction to meteorites and craters, staffed helpfully, with two floors of material largely in German but an English translation available via iPad for the whole museum, and tickets can be combined with the city museum.
FAQs for Visiting Rieskrater Museum
Nearby Attractions to the Rieskrater Museum
- Kirchturm Daniel: The tall tower of St. Georg church, offering panoramic views over Nördlingen's circular old town and the Ries crater landscape.
- Nördlingen City Museum (Stadtmuseum): Located in the historic Holy Spirit Hospital, with four floors of exhibits on the town's social, religious and military history.
- Nördlingen Town Walls: One of the few complete town-wall circuits in Germany, allowing a full walk around the medieval centre with ever-changing views.
- Historic Market Square: The lively heart of town life, surrounded by historic buildings, shops and cafés, ideal for relaxing before or after a museum visit.
- Löpsinger Gate Tower (Löpsinger Tor): A preserved town gate that houses a small museum and offers another vantage point over the walls and old streets.
The Rieskrater Museum appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Nördlingen!
Moira & Andy
Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!
This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!
Planning Your Visit
04/01/2023 - 11/05/2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
11/07/2023 to 03/22/2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m
English audio guide available.
Adult €5.00 Children €2.00
Nearby Attractions
- Infozentrum Geopark Ries (0.0) km
Museum - Nördlingen City Museum (0.1) km
Museum - Rathaus am Marktplatz (0.3) km
Town Hall - The Daniel Tower (0.4) km
Tower - Saint George's Church (0.4) km
Church - Stadtmauer Museum (0.4) km
Museum and Tower - Nördlingen City Walls (0.6) km
City Gate and City Walls - Harburg Castle (16.5) km
Castle - Nördlingen Gate (26.4) km
Historic Building - House of History (26.8) km
Historic Building and Museum
