Emotionally and a positively charging the term ‘regional museum‘ is the perfect challenge for facts and fiction. We enriched the regional thematic focus of the Eifel with interactive elements and high-quality experiences and coherently integrated all contents into the historical context. 

Regional films, novels and songs with a sentimental flavour, in fact almost anything associated with the German word ‘Heimat’ is not currently in fashion (deserved in most cases). The Eifel Museum Mayen therefore faced a difficult situation as a classic regional museum with a chronologically, object-focused presentation style and vitrines as the most important exhibition tool.

Thus a contemporary museum for the entire Eifel region was created - an attraction of transregional interest integrated into Mayen’s landmark, Genovevaburg Castle. While the regional focus remained, the museum was to be enriched with various interactive elements offering a high quality experience. The aim was after all to address a broader range of visitors than before: tourists on holiday in Mayen or the region, local school classes, the numerous hostels and event organisers using the museum as a venue.

This was the perfect challenge for facts and fiction. We started thinking about ways to emotionally and positively charge the term 'Heimat' museum by asking and answering questions, showing connections and telling stories. The exhibits from a piece of slate and a photograph of a rural wedding still constituted the core of the exhibition, but they were organised topical categories like ‘humans and landscape‘, ‘living in the city‘, ‘religion’, ‘ war and peace’ and ‘love and death’.

The topics were coherently incorporated into the historical context and topography of Genovevaburg Castle. Stage sets, video documents, listening stations, interactive installations and scented trails helped to bring the individual exhibits to life. The architectural and content-related core of the different rooms was formed by the glass info monolith, which as a structural element, walkthrough vitrine and media carrier extended over six floors. All in all, a fascinating museum was created enabling each visitor to individually connect with the Eifel.