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.
Chemnitzion richteri
Jogi and Birgit lived 291 million years ago and were buried by ash during the volcanic eruption in the Love Dance.
Opsieobuthus tungeri
This subtropical tree belongs to the now completely extinct group of ferns and was able to store huge amounts of water.
Medullosa stellata
330 million years ago, Chemnitz was almost on the equator. The rivers in the area were home to sharks that laid their eggs here.
Fayolia sterzeliana
Look over the shoulders of researchers
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
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
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
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, Chemnitz
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.
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Tickets are available during opening hours at the information desk / museum ticket office on the first floor.
Pupils/vocational school pupils with ID (from 19 years) and students
(not TU Chemnitz, from 19 years), severely disabled persons
Children and young people (up to 18 years)
Students of the TU Chemnitz
Chemnitz Pass holders, Thank You Card holders
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.
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More InformationDAStietz
Moritzstrasse 20
09111 Chemnitz
Stop: Zentralhaltestelle
Window into the history of the earth
Glockenstrasse 16
09130 Chemnitz
Stop: Chemnitz, Dresdner Platz
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