Museum power in the Altmühltal: Strong together for the future!

Museum power in the Altmühltal: Strong together for the future!

On June 13, 2025, the seventh meeting of representatives of regional museums in the Altmühltal Nature Park took place in the Limeseum in Ruffenhofen. The goal of this meeting was clear: to jointly develop new perspectives for the region's museum landscape and strengthen cooperation. Melanie Veit and Matthias Pausch warmly welcomed those present, setting the scene for an inspiring day.

The focus of the event was a lecture by Martin Spantig from the State Office for Non-State Museums in Bavaria. His topic, “Network and Marketing,” addressed the challenges facing museums in the digital age. Spantig emphasized the importance of clever digital networking and the need for museums to increase their visibility in cultural tourism in order to turn tourists into real museum visitors. Collaboration with local tourism experts plays an important role here.

A highlight of the region: the garden terraces of Willibaldsburg

During such important discussions about the future of museums, reference was also made to the region's cultural treasures. A particularly picturesque example are the garden terraces of Willibaldsburg. They offer a Tuscan flair and invite you to take a stroll in the summer months. The historic garden was once the pride of Prince-Bishop Johann Conrad von Gemmingen, who ruled from 1595 to 1612.

With over a thousand different plant species from Europe, Africa, America and Asia, this garden is a true botanical gem. Many of the plants were difficult to cultivate in the Bavarian climate, making the garden a special place of splendor. The Nuremberg pharmacist Basilius Besler captured this beauty in impressive copperplate plates that are still admired today for their attention to detail. These works of art weigh a whopping 14 kilograms and have an impressive page format of 54 by 45 centimeters.

Museum networks create connections

Back to the museum representatives: The interactions and cooperation between the museums are crucial to sustainably promote local culture. The formation of museum networks is a central aspect of strengthening partnerships in tourism. Spantig recommends prioritizing analog networks over digital activism. This creates a lively community that not only communicates via digital channels, but also organizes personal meetings.

Tourism is enriched by many digital tools. Your own Wikipedia article, a Google company profile for spontaneous area searches and integration into platforms such as Get Your Guide or Tripadvisor are just some of the recommended strategies. But it's not just the technology that counts; Storytelling and emotional enthusiasm for exhibits must also be present on museum websites in order to attract tourists and arouse their interest.

The increase in the use of social media is also an important issue. Here, Instagram posts with tourist hashtags, YouTube videos about exhibitions or TikTok content can create modern access to the museums for the younger generation.

It remains exciting to see what impulses from this meeting will continue to have an impact on Bavaria's museum landscape. It is clear that the symbiosis of digitalization, collaboration and regional flair like in the garden terraces of Willibaldsburg is crucial for the future of cultural tourism in the region. Those interested can find further information about the historic gardens and its treasures at museen-in-bayern.de. You can find out more about museum advice and digital strategies at museumsberatung-bayern.de read up.