March 31, 2026, 8:20 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In the Bavarian town of Schrobenhausen, there’s been an exceptionally unusual museum for 40 years. It focuses exclusively on what might be Germany’s favorite vegetable: asparagus. At the European Asparagus Museum, visitors can not only learn about cultivation and history but also admire some very rare and extremely valuable exhibits.
For enthusiasts around the bustling metropolis of Berlin, places like Beelitz and Kremmen are key locations, just as Schrobenhausen is for Bavaria and its many visitors. It’s the top destination for asparagus. For over 100 years, since 1913, the delicious stalks have been extensively cultivated and harvested here, earning the town a special reputation as Bavaria’s asparagus capital. Indeed, the “white gold” is so cherished here that 40 years ago, it was given its own educational institution: the European Asparagus Museum in Schrobenhausen.
According to the official website of the town, the museum is housed in an old tower of the city wall, which once served as both a prison and an office. Visitors are captivated by the extensive exhibition, which showcases exhibits from around the world on two floors. The asparagus museum promises to teach everything about asparagus: history, botany, cultivation, art, and curiosities. Before this, Schrobenhausen had established the first German specialized collection on the topic in 1985, then called the German Asparagus Museum.
Only Two Examples Left Worldwide
On the ground floor of the asparagus museum, you’ll find interesting and unusual exhibits on the history, botany, and cultivation of asparagus. These include old copper engravings and herbal reference books that highlight the vegetable’s significance for medicine and science in general. Among them are genuine treasures, such as an extensive volume on the subject by German physician and botanist Jakob Theodor Tabernaemontanus from 1664. Visitors can also see special tools and equipment used over the centuries in the cultivation and harvesting of asparagus.
A short educational film at the asparagus museum explains the origin and significance of this luxury vegetable. On the first floor, you’ll find cookbooks and recipes centered around the coveted stalks, as well as a collection of asparagus dishware. Among these is a rarity in the literal sense: an asparagus lidded dish made of Meissen porcelain, of which only two pieces remain worldwide. Additionally, there are plates painted with asparagus motifs and another invaluable object to admire: an asparagus tong by Russian court jeweler Carl Peter Fabergé from 1890.
Widely Acclaimed
The official website of the town provides detailed explanations of various exhibits in the asparagus museum, allowing interested parties to learn more. For those unable to visit in person, the museum can now be explored via an app, with the download linked on the Schrobenhausen site. The museum is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is two euros for adults, reduced to 1.50 euros for groups of 10 or more during guided tours. Exhibit signage is available in German, English, and French.
On the portal Tripadvisor, there are numerous comments about the asparagus museum in Schrobenhausen. One user writes: “Interesting, small museum about asparagus.” Another says: “Very friendly museum staff, happy to answer questions.” A third adds: “The museum was recognized by the Council of Europe as one of the ten best specialized museums in Europe.” This recognition came shortly after its opening in 1993. More awards followed, such as being named a “Place in the Land of Ideas” in 2006, an honor bestowed by then-President Horst Köhler.
“During asparagus season, people sometimes come here by bus,” says museum director Claudia Freitag-Mair to TRAVELBOOK. Groups and clubs are often present, visiting the asparagus museum, shopping at one of the farms, and, of course, dining locally. “Schrobenhausen is Bavaria’s asparagus capital. There is evidence that asparagus from our Sandizell Castle was delivered to the Munich court as early as the 1860s.” Naturally, the town takes pride in such a flagship attraction. The well-preserved city wall is also worth seeing. “You can easily spend a whole day here.”