Optical Museum Jena

The Deutsches Optisches Museum is a science museum in Jena displaying optical instruments spanning eight centuries. The collections include microscopes, telescopes, spectroscopes, and precision measurement devices from different historical periods.

The museum was founded in 1922 by the Carl-Zeiss Foundation and initially located in the Volkshaus building. It moved to its current Carl-Zeiss-Platz location in 1928 in a building designed by architect Johannes Schreiter.

The museum demonstrates how Jena became a center for optical technology through the work of key figures like Ernst Abbe and Carl Zeiss. The collections show how their innovations shaped the city and influenced precision work across Europe.

The museum is currently closed for reconstruction until 2027 and visitors should confirm its reopening status through official channels before planning a visit. Check the museum's website or contact local tourism information for the most current updates.

The collection includes a silver dissectible eye model from the French royal court made before 1700, showing how early scholars understood human vision. This rare artifact demonstrates the attempts to explain sight centuries before modern optical technology existed.

Location: Jena

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Operator: Stiftung Deutsches Optisches Museum

Opening Hours: "temporarily closed for reconstruction"

GPS coordinates: 50.92775,11.57930

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:05