Otto-von-Guericke-Museum Travel Guide

The Otto-von-Guericke Museum, located in the Lukasklause, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Otto von Guericke (1602-1686), a renowned scientist, inventor, and long-serving mayor of Magdeburg. The museum showcases his remarkable achievements in the realm of physics and his significant role in Magdeburg's history.The Lukasklause itself is a historical landmark. Its origins trace back to the Welschen Turm, a part of Magdeburg's medieval fortifications first documented in 1279. In 1631, imperial troops stormed the city near this tower, causing widespread devastation. Otto von Guericke, then an engineer in Swedish service, oversaw the reconstruction of the city's defenses, including the tower. In 1900, the St. Lukas artists' association acquired the tower and added an extension, renaming it Lukasklause in 1904. Since 1995, the Lukasklause has been home to the Otto-von-Guericke Museum.The museum's exhibits include historical devices, images, and documents that illustrate Guericke's life and work. Visitors can witness demonstrations of his experiments, including the famous Magdeburg hemispheres experiment, which demonstrated the power of atmospheric pressure. The museum also features a re-creation of Guericke's study, providing insight into his working environment. The museum is wheelchair accessible.