Highlights

An art collection celebrates its anniversary! The Rhön-Grabfeld district is in the unique position of owning its own art collection spanning from the Baroque period to the present day. The collection began 50 years ago with the election of Dr Fritz Steigerwald as District Administrator in 1976. In 1993, the district’s own museum, the Kreisgalerie in Mellrichstadt, opened its doors. At that time, over 300 works from the collection of paintings and sculptures were made accessible to the public across three floors.
Thomas Habermann took over as District Administrator in 2003. The Kreisgalerie was enhanced with a café and now also hosts annual temporary exhibitions. He continued his predecessor’s collecting activities and, in collaboration with the cultural agency, has ensured since 2006 that the collection is expanded in a targeted manner. Since 2024, the district’s central art depot has also been part of the collection.
The focus and guiding principle of the Rhön-Grabfeld collections has always been the regional connection to the Rhön, the Grabfeld and Lower Franconia. From the outset, the collection’s focus was thus deliberately oriented towards regionality. Consequently, works by artists who hail from the region or who have worked or are currently working here are on display. However, the collection also includes works by artists from outside the region who were or are inspired by the Rhön and the Grabfeld, the landscape and the people, and who have captured and continue to capture these in their works.

Last edited on 29.06.2026