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ZEISS Museum of Optics

Experience over 175 years of innovation firsthand.

Join us on a fascinating journey through the world of optics.

More than 1,000 exciting and often unique exhibits on an area of 1,000 square meters.

In ten different categories, you can enjoy interesting, valuable and unexpected encounters with the history of product and technology development that are important to ZEISS.

The exhibition takes you from the present into the past: from leading-edge medical technology systems ad the photo of Neil Armstrong, which he captured with a ZEISS lens during the first moon langing, right up to one of Napoleon’s telescopes.

From planetariums to optical lithography

Explore the evolution of trailblazing optical technologies, methods and instruments not only visually, but by trying numerous exhibits out for yourself, with a host of interactive exhibits like microscopes and telescopes.
  • Brillengläser im Museum der Optik
  • Mikroskope im Museum der Optik
  • Messtechnik im Museum für Optik
  • Optische Lithographie im Museum der Optik
  • Medizintechnik im Museum der Optik
  • Ferngläser im Museum der Optik
  • Foto- und Filmobjektive im Museum der Optik
  • Planetarien im Museum der Optik

  • Sharpen your focus.

    Eyeglasses and Ophthalmic Systems

    Without pioneers like ZEISS, many people would not be able to see the world in all its splendor today. ZEISS has been developing technologies for diagnosing and treating eye diseases for more than 100 years. Embark on a fascinating tour through the world of ophthalmology.

  • Push boundaries.

    Microscopes

    Microscopes have enabled some of the most important discoveries in history – from penicillin to stem cell research. Explore the unique microcosm of ZEISS, the pioneer in optics.

  • Set standards.

    Metrology

    From the automotive industry to medical technology: without precision measuring technology, industrial production would hardly be able to meet the high standards expected of products. See for yourself.

  • Enable digitization.

    Optical Lithography

    Everyday life would be virtually unthinkable without lithography optics: it is the key process used for the production of microchips which now pervade practically every facet of the modern world. Learn more about the technologies and methods developed and used at ZEISS.

  • Preserve health.

    Medical Technology

    Modern medicine has already saved millions of lives. Surgeons around the globe rely on visualization solutions from ZEISS. Experience this fascinating world up close.

  • Bring it closer.

    Binoculars

    Spotting scopes and binoculars from ZEISS have been making it possible to experience and observe nature for more than 120 years. They bring distant details up close and make them visible.

  • Capture moments.

    Camera and Cine Lenses

    Whether macro, tele or wide-angle: the right lens is a must for creating exceptional photographs. Explore the evolution of the various camera lenses at ZEISS. Always wanted to go to Hollywood? Now you can experience Oscar-winning camera technology from ARRI in cooperation with ZEISS in Oberkochen as well.

  • Discover infinity.

    Planetariums

    In the 1920s, ZEISS developed the world's first projection planetarium for the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Since then, planetariums have fascinated generations of people. Astronauts, pilots and sailors use mini planetariums such as the one in the museum as "training centers".

Visitor information

Address and contact

ZEISS Museum of Optics
Carl-Zeiss-Strasse 22
73447 Oberkochen, Germany

Tel.:  +49 7364 200
Email:  museum@zeiss.com

Our opening hours

Monday to Friday:  9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Closed  on public holidays, weekends and on the following days:
from Monday, 31 July 2023, up to and including Friday, 04 August 2023  

You’re interested in booking a  museum tour  or have a group with more than 10 people:  

  • Entry: free of charge

    Suitable for children: aged 12 and up

    Parking: a limited number of parking spaces for cars is available directly in front of the museum. On-street parking requires a "parking disc."

    Lockers: a large number of lockers are available at the museum for your bag. These require a one or two-euro coin.

  • Photography, filming, video recordings and other types of image capture without a tripod or flash as well as drawings are allowed so long as they are intended exclusively for personal use. We would ask that you be courteous to other visitors when taking photos or filming and ensure that other people are only photographed with their consent.

    Licensing these images/videos to third parties for commercial purposes or positing them on the Internet is not permitted. Photographs for editorial purposes require the consent of the Press Office (press@zeiss.com).

    Photography and filming are not permitted on the rest of the premises.
175 years of ZEISS
175 years of ZEISS

175 years of ZEISS

Challenge the limits of imagination

Ever since ZEISS was founded more than 175 years ago, curiosity, passion and precision have been inspiring us, our customers and our partners. Together, we have succeeded time after time in opening up new perspectives, transforming major challenges into major opportunities and making the impossible possible. In spite of the many changes the world has seen over the past more than 175 years, one thing has stayed the same: together, we challenge the limits of our imagination.

Find out more about our anniversary
Surface of the moon

The journey to the moon and ZEISS

In a special exhibition entitled "See beyond. Go beyond. The journey to the moon and ZEISS", the ZEISS Museum of Optics presented selected pieces from the ZEISS archives.

The technological achievements and valuable observations made by some of the first pioneers in space were not the only reason the race to the Moon proved so impressive. Even today, we continue to be fascinated by the stunning photographs the astronauts brought back to Earth from their missions and from the Moon itself. Camera lenses specially designed by ZEISS for use in space played an important role in capturing these images.

These were on display at a special exhibition at the ZEISS Museum of Optics. It also featured a ZEISS Ikon Contarex camera, which the Gemini 4 pilot used during the first American spacewalk, and the legendary Hasselblad camera from the Apollo 11 mission. This cameras returned to their places in the permanent exhibition.

Read more
ZEISS archives drawer
Entrance area forum

ZEISS Archives

Questions on history and historical products

The ZEISS Archives contain original documents, files, photos, patents, registered designs, product literature, technical documentation and instruments from more than 150 years of company history.

Discover now
Entrance area forum
Entrance area forum

ZEISS Forum

Conference – Event – Museum

The ZEISS Forum offers you many different possibilities for events and conferences. The 17 rooms of the ZEISS Forum, with capacities for groups between 5 and 310 people, leave nothing to be desired and offer optimal facilities for events.

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Museum tour

You’re interested in booking a museum tour or have a group with more than 10 people?

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Contact

Do you have a question? Give us a call or write to us.
Phone: +49 7364 200
E-Mail: museum@zeiss.com