Museum für Naturkunde Gera

At the Museum für Naturkunde Gera, you can embark on a journey of discovery through the nature of East Thuringia and get to know the regional flora, fauna, and geology. Especially fascinating inhabitants such as the wildcat, eagle owl, and lady's slipper orchid as protected species are in focus.

A highlight is the extensive mineral collections from East Thuringia and around the world, displayed on the 2nd floor as well as in the vaulted cellar and the cave beneath the building. Additionally, changing special exhibitions provide new impressions and experiences.

One of the most impressive exhibits is the life-sized reconstruction of a female cave hyena, created by a world-renowned scientific sculptor. The animal is shown gnawing on the femur of a woolly rhinoceros – a link to local paleontology, as a cave hyena cave with fossils dating from 50,000 to 20,000 years ago was found nearby.

The museum is located in the historic Schreibenerschen Haus, the oldest preserved townhouse in Gera’s old town, which survived a major city fire in 1780. In the splendid Baroque hall on the 2nd floor, you can admire an impressive high Baroque stucco ceiling, probably created by Gabriel Zillinger and Italian stucco artists.