You think you know what a museum dedicated to the color blue might be like — but nothing prepares you for the curious, whimsical world behind that big blue door at Museum Blau in Schwetzingen. Let me share my experience. 💙
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What’s a place near you that you’ve always meant to visit — but never quite made it?
Years ago, in my hometown of Schwetzingen, I passed a big blue door, possibly a former carriage entrance. On it: Museum Blau (that’s blue, in German). Open on weekends and holidays.
I made a mental note: Next rainy Sunday, I’ll go in.
Fast forward 12 (or maybe 14?) years… and I finally did.
And OH. MY. BLUE.
Small from the Outside… But
...a full-on universe on the inside.
The moment you step through the blue doors, across the courtyard, and into the heart of it, you realize you’ve entered a parallel universe.
A bluetopia.
More than 1,000 exhibits, all celebrating a single color: BLUE.
Even the covered entryway makes you pause and look around. Then comes the courtyard in cheerful blue and yellow, with little corners and curiosities. But the real magic happens once you enter the actual museum rooms. Two full floors of them. Each space with its own theme, its own focus.
I always assumed there wouldn’t be much to see at Museum Blau in Schwetzingen. Maybe a few blue vases? Some tiles? A denim display? Something to fill a quiet, rainy hour.
That’s probably why it took me so many years to finally go.
And definitely why I didn’t bring my proper camera. I figured I’d pop in, look around for a bit, and head out. But oh wow — I was so glad I at least had my phone with me to take a couple of fast shots that I can share (the pics you see in this post). Within minutes, I knew I’d want to share this place with you right away.
What to Expect at the Schwetzingen Museum Blau
The museum lives inside a cute historic house = a treat all on its own.
Entryway, Courtyard, and the Language Room
Right as you step in, you’re greeted by the first blue objects — and then you walk into the charming courtyard filled with more quirky objects, including blue tiles and azulejos.
Tucked into one corner is the “Language Room,” dedicated to all the ways different cultures use the word “blue.” (In German, blau sein means being drunk; in English, it’s feeling sad; in Russian, it can refer to being gay.)
Some signs and sayings are hilarious, like the one below: "Invest your money in alcohol! Where else can you get 40%?"
Another fun thing is a vintage jukebox that still works! Drop in a few coins, and it’ll play songs that all share - how could it be otherwise - the color blue.
Main House: Ground Floor
Back in the courtyard, right across from the Language Room, is the entrance to the main house's ground floor. The rooms each explore a different aspect of blue.
You can dive into the history of blue pigments — think indigo, ultramarine, and cobalt — once more valuable than gold.
Other rooms highlight:
- Blue in religion
- Blue in clothing, from work uniforms to royal robes to, yes, police cars
- Blue in childhood favorites like the Smurfs and Captain Bluebear (or was that upstairs? So many rooms, my memory’s gone a bit fuzzy!)
Main House: Second Floor
Upstairs, things take a dreamy, poetic turn. The sky and ocean, Romantic poetry’s famous Blue Flower, and birds with shimmering blue feathers.
But also: the eerie and mysterious.
- Blue in ghost stories (complete with spooky sounds!)
- Blue in sailor lore and superstition
- Blue in the arts
And then comes the real fun: A CLOUD SWING! Say whaaat?!!? You can totally sit on it, swaying gently over a sky-painted floor. (You can see it on the museum’s website– scroll down, it’s the third-to-last picture)
And a whole room filled with blue stuffed animals. And yes, you’re very much invited to touch them.
All in all, it’s such an immersive, sensory experience full of surprises. My husband and I kept turning to each other like little kids: “Did you see that?” “Wait, come here!” (Speaking of them: Kids would love it here.)
As we concluded our visit and headed back downstairs to look for the restrooms, we had no idea that another surprise was waiting there. (Thank goodness we had to pee — we might’ve missed one of the best parts.)
Don’t Skip the Toilets!
Seriously.
Even if you don’t need to go, at least peek your head inside — both of them, the ladies’ and the gents’. They’re wildly creative and absolutely part of the museum experience.
The women’s restroom feels surreal: dark, tiny, eerie, like stepping into a dream (or a nightmare, albeit a stylish one). Even the toilet paper is black!
The men’s restroom is the polar opposite. Bright and cheerful, like a little boy’s soccer fantasy.
A Final Surprise
Just as we were about to leave, the museum attendant called us back. He had one more thing to show us.
“Have you heard of the princess tree?” he asked.
We shook our heads.
“It’s quite special,” he said, pointing to the large tree in the courtyard and a little heart-shaped sign dangling from a branch. “The flowers bloom before the leaves.”
In German, it’s called Blauglockenbaum (blue bell tree), named for its lilac-blue, bell-shaped flowers. When we saw it, the tree was still bare. But the buds were already there, big and full of promise.
If you visit in May or early June, you might see the tree in bloom and even catch a hint of its sweet, vanilla-like scent.
Verdict (AKA Worth the Trip?)
What I didn’t expect was how deeply rooted the color blue is — into culture, religion, nature, fashion, folklore. How much meaning and magic it carries. And how much there is to learn, not just for lovers of the color, but especially for those who’ve never really given it a second thought.
Yes, there are tiles and ceramics. But what makes this museum special is the variety, the care, and the thoughtful storytelling. You can feel the dedication behind it. The love for blue and all the stories that come with it.
The museum’s website proudly claims that Museum Blau is one-of-a-kind on our whole blue planet — and honestly, I believe them.
Most people come to Schwetzingen for the baroque palace, the gardens, or the asparagus (yes, really). But I say: come for the Museum Blau. And even if you’re already here for the castle, the museum is just a short walk away, a nice add-on to your day.
Even on its own, I think it’s absolutely worth the trip.
Good to Know for Planning Your Visit
The museum is open from early April to early October on weekends and public holidays. If you’d like to visit outside those times, you can arrange a private appointment.
On Saturdays, there’s a free guided tour in the afternoon (you just pay the regular entry fee).
They even offer special programs for kids, which I thought was such a lovely touch.
The exhibit texts are in German, but since the museum is not text-heavy, I think a good translation app like Google Translate will help you find your way around just fine.
You can find all the details at museumblau.de, and see more photos from inside the house here and here.
Will you go? I’d love to hear what surprised you most.
Wishing you planty of delights in Schwetzingen,
Ramona
♥
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