Fruchtkasten, Gothic stone building at Schillerplatz, Stuttgart, Germany
The Fruchtkasten is a Renaissance building on the north side of Schillerplatz in Stuttgart's historic center, with a stone facade and several floors. The ground floor holds a concert hall, while the upper floors contain exhibition rooms open to the public.
The building first appeared in records in 1393 as a wine press behind the collegiate church yard, then later converted into a grain store for the city. Over time it took on other civic uses before becoming the museum space it is today.
The building now houses a collection of historical musical instruments spanning several centuries, displayed so visitors can see them up close. The instruments come from very different periods and show how construction and sound have changed over time.
Schillerplatz sits in the heart of Stuttgart's old town and is easy to reach on foot. The concert hall on the ground floor can be entered without climbing stairs, which makes it more accessible for visitors with limited mobility.
Concerts held in the building sometimes use original instruments drawn directly from the museum collection, so the music is played on genuine objects rather than reproductions. This means the sounds heard in the hall are ones that would be hard to recreate with modern copies.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
