Hans Thoma Art Museum | Photos & Tickets

The Hans Thoma Art Museum in Bernau in the Black Forest is much more than a small regional museum: It is a place where art history, local ties, and the unique landscape of the Black Forest come together. The building was founded in 1949 and has since developed into a museum of supra-regional significance. Those looking for Hans Thoma Art Museum photos, tickets, opening hours, or directions will find a well-organized museum visit here, with a permanent exhibition, changing presentations, and a collection that long exceeds the narrow focus on a single artist. The focus is on the works of Hans Thoma, the painter and poet born in Bernau, complemented by Karl Hauptmann and the complete history of the Hans Thoma Prize winners since 1950. The collection includes around 2000 exhibits, which have grown through purchases, donations, estates, and loans. Thus, the museum is not only a place for art lovers but also an important cultural anchor point in the district of Innerlehen. The visit is also practical: Address, admission, opening hours, tours, and parking are transparently regulated, and with barrier-free access via elevator, the building is also easily accessible for many visitors. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/kunst-auf-hohem-niveau))

Photos and First Impressions of the Hans Thoma Art Museum

Those who engage with Hans Thoma Art Museum photos before their visit often want to know how the building feels and what atmosphere awaits them. The official museum website shows bright exhibition rooms and conveys the impression of a focused, calm house where art is not overshadowed by large effects. This is precisely a significant attraction: The museum is not a loud large space but a clearly structured place with exhibition areas that give room to the works. The architectural development of recent years also shows that not only has preservation taken place here, but also investment. In 2024, a new oak parquet floor covering 600 square meters, freshly painted walls over 1000 square meters, and new display walls for the prizewinner exhibition were implemented. This creates a modern, friendly effect that is particularly suitable for photos, impressions, and a brief cultural stop. So, those looking for pictures of the museum will find not only artworks but also a well-maintained, structured interior that connects history and present. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/kunst-auf-hohem-niveau))

The current exhibition situation is also part of the visual experience. The official site announces the exhibition Eckart Hahn - Clearing for summer 2026, which runs from 17.05.2026 to 26.07.2026. The title refers to the interplay of forest, light, gap, and revelation and fits very well into the Black Forest backdrop around Bernau. This is interesting for visitors because the museum is not only a biographical place for Hans Thoma but also remains a vibrant exhibition house. Therefore, those searching for photos from the Hans Thoma Art Museum will not receive mere object photography but an impression of a well-kept museum architecture, bright rooms, and changing presentations that keep the house current. This mixture of tradition, contemporary art, and regional anchoring makes the first impression so strong. For social media images, travel planning, and the search for an authentic cultural place, this is a convincing combination. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/aktuelle-ausstellung))

Tickets, Opening Hours, and Admission Prices

When planning a visit, tickets for the Hans Thoma Art Museum, opening hours, and admission prices play a central role. The museum is open Wednesday to Friday from 10:30 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00. On Saturdays and Sundays, the opening hours are from 11:30 to 17:00. Additionally, the building is accessible on Easter and Whit Monday as well as on holidays from 11:30 to 17:00. Particularly important for travelers: From December 26 to January 6, there are special opening hours during which the museum is open daily. The house remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as on December 24, 25, and 31; furthermore, there is a fall break from November 16 to December 17. Therefore, those visiting with family, friends, or spontaneously should coordinate their visit in advance with these times. This planning is straightforward for guests coming from the Black Forest or the tri-border area because the dates are clearly stated on the official site. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/infos-service))

The admission fee is deliberately kept moderate, making the museum attractive for shorter excursions. Adults pay 6.00 euros, adults with guest cards from other places pay 5.00 euros, children, students, and pupils pay 2.00 euros. Groups of 13 or more pay 4.00 euros per person. Free admission is granted to guests with the Bernau guest card for more than two overnight stays, as well as holders of the Museum-PASS Musées, the Three Worlds Card, or press representatives by prior arrangement. It is also practically important: Card payments are not possible, so cash should be brought along. Guided tours of the exhibition are possible upon request, as are visits outside regular opening hours, but without discounts. For visitors with a specific interest in Hans Thoma artworks or a guided interpretation of the collection, this is a real advantage because it allows for an individualized museum visit. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/infos-service))

Directions and Parking in Innerlehen

The journey to the Hans Thoma Art Museum is uncomplicated because the address is clearly located in the center of Innerlehen: Rathausstraße 18, 79872 Bernau in the Black Forest. The museum is situated in the area of the town hall and the tourist information, making it easy for visitors to find. Those searching for the Hans Thoma Art Museum in Bernau in the Black Forest can orient themselves at the town hall in Innerlehen and reach the museum in just a few steps. This is helpful for the first visit because the districts of Bernau can seem calm and scattered, but the museum address is clearly marked. The location in the town center also ensures that a museum visit can easily be combined with other errands or a short walk. This location is pleasant for cultural travelers, as the route is not complicated, and the museum visit does not fail due to an unclear traffic situation. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/kunst-auf-hohem-niveau))

When it comes to parking, there is a particularly good solution: The free parking lot at the town hall of Bernau also serves as the parking lot for the Hans Thoma Art Museum. According to Schwarzwald Tourismus, there are approximately 25 car parking spaces available. For a house of this size, this is a clear advantage because visitors can park directly nearby without having to search long for a parking space. This is very practical information, especially for families, older visitors, or guests with limited mobility. Therefore, those planning their journey should consider the town hall parking lot as the first option. The fact that the museum is located in the town hall area makes the paths additionally short and clear. The parking offer is not spectacularly large, but it is very practical for a quiet museum visit in the Black Forest. Combined with the clear address and fixed opening hours, a visit profile emerges that is uncomplicated and well-planned. ([schwarzwald-tourismus.info](https://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/attraktionen/parkplatz-rathaus-bernau-e4202b85aa?utm_source=openai))

Hans Thoma, Karl Hauptmann, and the Permanent Exhibition

The heart of the house is the permanent exhibition on Hans Thoma. The artist was born on October 2, 1839, in Bernau, in the district of Oberlehen, as the son of a woodworker. His mother came from an old family of artisans from Menzenschwand and was related to the painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter. Even these biographical roots show how strongly art, craftsmanship, and landscape were intertwined in this family. Hans Thoma left Bernau at the age of 20, went to the Karlsruhe Art School, and returned to his hometown repeatedly. The meadows, streams, mountains, and farms of the Black Forest valley became recurring motifs in his paintings. The museum's website describes this closeness beautifully: Thoma stated that he wanted to paint nothing other than what he had seen and lived. This attitude explains why the museum in Bernau appears so credible: It is not an abstract memory space but the place from which the visual world of an artist emerged who never completely lost his homeland. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/biographie))

The biography of Hans Thoma ranges from early training years through travels and recognition to his career in Karlsruhe. In 1899, the Grand Duke of Baden appointed him director of the art hall in Karlsruhe, and he was also a professor at the art academy. This activity ended in 1919, and Thoma died in Karlsruhe in 1924. However, for the museum visit in Bernau, it is particularly important that the house has translated this life line into a concrete collection since its founding in 1949. The focus is on the permanent exhibition with many exhibits by Hans Thoma, complemented by a smaller permanent exhibition on the Black Forest landscape painter Karl Hauptmann, whose winter paintings also have a fixed place here. The museum also houses a collection of all Hans Thoma Prize winners since 1950. Together, this creates an exhibition that not only makes the art of an individual visible but also over 70 years of art in Baden-Württemberg. With around 2000 exhibits, the collection is impressively extensive and closely tied to the place and history. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/biographie))

Hans Thoma Prize and Current Exhibitions

An important reason why the Hans Thoma Art Museum is also exciting for art enthusiasts looking at modern and contemporary art lies in the Hans Thoma Prize. The prize has been awarded since 1950, initially annually and since 1971 every two years. Since 2024, it has been a state prize of the state of Baden-Württemberg. According to the museum's website, the prize amount has been 25,000 euros since August 25, 2022. The prize is awarded to artists who already have an established work or whose development promises high achievements. A condition is that they were born in Baden-Württemberg or have a focus of their work there. This prize is so important for the museum because each prizewinner donates a work of art to the house as a gift. In this way, a collection has emerged that is not only historically but also art-historically very broad. Since 1950, more than 40 painters, graphic artists, sculptors, photo and object artists have received the prize, including well-known names such as Anselm Kiefer, Thomas Ruff, Karin Sander, and Tobias Rehberger. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/kunstpreise/hans-thoma-preis))

The current exhibition in summer 2026 additionally shows that the Hans Thoma Art Museum remains a lively place. With Eckart Hahn - Clearing, an exhibition will be presented from 17.05.2026 to 26.07.2026 that addresses the relationship between light, forest, stage, and perception. Even the description on the museum's website makes it clear that this is about more than decorative pictures: The clearing stands for visibility and emptiness at the same time, for revelation and disappearance. This fits the exhibition very well with a house that grows from a long tradition and yet takes on current positions. For visitors looking for a combination of Hans Thoma artworks, a historical museum, and new exhibition art, this is a convincing added value. The house thus shows that it not only preserves but actively continues the regional art history. Especially in connection with the Hans Thoma Prize, it becomes clear why Bernau as an art location receives attention beyond the narrow circle of the Black Forest. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/aktuelle-ausstellung))

Barrier-Free Visit, Tours, and Practical Tips

For a pleasant visit, not only art and history are important but also the practical framework conditions. The Hans Thoma Art Museum has had barrier-free access via elevator since 2010. This is a central point because access becomes easier for many visitors, and the museum appears not only as a historical place but also as a contemporary institution. Those who want to inform themselves in advance can call the museum directly; the phone number is provided on the museum's website. It is also explicitly noted that guided tours of the exhibition are possible upon request, and appointments outside of opening hours can also be arranged. This is very helpful for groups, families, or art-interested guests with specific questions, as it allows for a more individualized visit. Especially if one wants to engage intensively with Hans Thoma or Karl Hauptmann, a guided interpretation of the collection is worthwhile. The museum is thus suitable not only for a quick tour but also for a concentrated, informative visit. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/kunst-auf-hohem-niveau))

Also, the other visit details speak for good planning. Since card payments are not possible, one should bring cash. Those who possess a Bernau guest card and stay longer than two nights benefit from free admission; the Museum-PASS Musées, the Three Worlds Card, and the press also apply by prior arrangement. This makes the museum particularly attractive for guests from the region and for overnight guests. The weekend and holiday opening hours allow for spontaneous visits, while the closing days during the week provide clarity. Those who want to plan their visit well can also combine it with the quiet location in Innerlehen. The museum is not a place for haste but for careful observation, reading, and categorization. Precisely for this reason, it works so well for travelers who want to experience the connection between art, biography, and Black Forest landscape rather than just take a few photos. ([museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de](https://museen.bernau-schwarzwald.de/hans-thoma-kunstmuseum/infos-service))

Sources:

• Museums Bernau in the Black Forest - Hans Thoma Art Museum: Art at a High Level
• Museums Bernau in the Black Forest - Hans Thoma Art Museum: Information & Service
• Museums Bernau in the Black Forest - Hans Thoma Art Museum: Biography
• Museums Bernau in the Black Forest - Hans Thoma Art Museum: Hans Thoma Prize
• Museums Bernau in the Black Forest - Hans Thoma Art Museum: Current Exhibition
• Schwarzwald Tourism GmbH - Town Hall Parking Bernau