Children's Birthday Party

What were Osianderplatz (the museum forecourt) and the Franziskaner’s concert hall used to be? How heavy is one of the cannonballs that once severely damaged the Franciscan monastery? How many gates does the city have?

Using a questionnaire, the children explore Villingen’s downtown area and the local history section of the Franziskaner Museum. Along the way, they learn fascinating and surprising facts about the city and its former residents. At the end, the children get to mint a coin modeled after a Villingen denarius.

Ages: 7 to 11 years
Duration: 60 minutes

During this hands-on tour, young visitors learn what people in the Stone Age knew how to do with stone. They’ll try out various tools—from a Stone Age lighter to a millstone to a Stone Age drill—before examining the Stone Age exhibits in the display case.

In the hands-on portion, the children will create a piece of jewelry from slate and learn the necessary techniques (grinding the stone, working with flint).

Note: To ensure that all participants can actively take part in the tour, please come in as small groups as possible (up to 15, maximum 20 people).

Age: 7 to 12 years
Duration: 60 minutes

The world has changed enormously between the Middle Ages and the present day. But children still play. What has changed, and what has remained the same? The goal is to convey the joy of all kinds of games. Similarities and differences between medieval and modern games are highlighted and explained. In addition, the tour highlights the different social roles children played in the past compared to today.

During the tour, children will discover how simple the materials used for play can be. They’ll also have the chance to try on medieval costumes.

Weather permitting: Games in the courtyard, such as tug-of-war, the egg race, and sack races.

Age: 5 to 10 years
Duration: 60 minutes

Where do unicorns actually live? What other mythical creatures are there? Did the local hero Romäus really exist?
Dressed as a unicorn, the birthday child sets out with their guests on a quest to find mythical creatures and fairy-tale characters. Through play, the children learn where fairy tales come from, what legends are associated with these mythical creatures, and which of them also play a role in our city’s history.
During the hands-on portion, the children can then use stamps to decorate greeting cards or cloth bags. The designs feature the fairy-tale characters they encountered during the tour.

Relevance to the curriculum: Grades
1–3 Age: 6 to 10 years
Duration: 60 minutes

Material cost for cotton bags: €2.00 per child

The Middle Ages fascinate many children. On this guided tour, they’ll learn more about the era of knights and castles, as well as the lifestyles of the rich and the poor in a medieval town. During the hands-on activity, the children can make a knight’s helmet or a pointed hat, or create a town coat of arms out of clay.

Age: 6 to 9 years
Duration: 60 minutes

The monks of the Franciscan Order once walked through these rooms, which are now part of the museum. Following in their footsteps, the students learn about a medieval monastery complex and its functions, and reenact a typical daily routine. In this playful way, they explore one of the city’s most impressive architectural landmarks.

Age: 6 to 8 years
Duration: 60 minutes

The tour focuses on the burial chamber of the Celtic prince, which was excavated at Magdalenenberg. The children take on the role of researchers themselves and search for grave goods in a sandbox featuring a full-scale reconstruction of the burial chamber. The small objects they discover there will later lead them to the exhibits. Through this playful approach, participants learn more about Celtic crafts, social life, and beliefs about the afterlife.

In the hands-on portion, participants will create pottery using clay.

Restriction: The group should not exceed 15 children.

Age: 5 to 10 years
Duration: 60 minutes

"Back to the Good Old Days?" is a general introduction to life in the Black Forest 100 to 200 years ago. It answers questions such as "Where does the Bollenhut come from?", "How is glass made?", and "How did clocks come to the Black Forest?" In the recreated farmhouse parlors, visitors can experience the Black Forest “lifestyle” firsthand.

In small groups, participants try on an original Sankt Georgen traditional costume and other traditional costumes with their individual components, paint and decorate chipboard boxes, or print fabrics using blue-printing stencils.

A fee of 2.00 euros per child is charged for the provision of the chipboard boxes/bags.

Be sure to bring a camera!

Age: 5 to 99 years
Duration: 60 minutes

The tour begins with an excerpt from Astrid Lindgren’s classic children’s book. Afterward, the children are “ready to go”: Using a few items they’ve been given, they set out to find similar exhibits and learn, among other things, that a trophy was made from a coconut.

Age: 5 to 8 years
Duration: 60 minutes

At its core, Carnival is a festival that precedes Lent: people indulged one last time in all the carnal pleasures that would be forbidden in the days to come. The figure of the fool serves as a sinful counterpoint to the devout believer, but at the same time as a seductive reflection of one’s own desires and vanities. During the guided tour, the background of the tradition as well as individual motifs—such as the foxtail and collar, the donkey’s head, and straw—are explained in an age-appropriate manner against the broader backdrop of cultural and intellectual history. Younger participants will also paint and decorate a pre-made cardboard mask.

Age: 5 to 99 years
Duration: 60 minutes