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ZEISS Museum

Fascination of optics

Experience the museum in 360°

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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 and the photo of Neil Armstrong, which he captured with a ZEISS lens during the first moon landing, 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

  • Focusing on important moments

    Eyeglass lenses and ophthalmological instruments

    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.

  • Deepening insights

    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.

  • Setting standards

    Metrology

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

  • Enabling 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.

  • Maintaining 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.

  • Bringing distant objects closer

    Binoculars

    Spotting scopes and binoculars from ZEISS have been making it possible to experience and observe nature for more than 130 years. They bring distant details up close and make them visible.

  • Capturing those important moments

    Camera 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.

  • Discovering 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".

ZEISS
ZEISS

Seeing Beyond

A look into the future

The "Seeing Beyond" video wall reflects more than 175 years of history and visions of the company into a view of the future. Discover the megatrends most important for ZEISS on this 10 meter wide wall. Topics such as digitalization, mobility or sustainability invite you to reflect on technological and social developments – according to the motto "Seeing Beyond". VIP guests can be welcomed here with customized presentations. For this one-of-a-kind brand loyalty tool ZEISS won the BoB Award in bronze in 2022, which honors outstanding examples of B2B brand communication.

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. to 5 p.m.

Closed on public holidays, weekends and on the following days:

May
Friday, May 9, open from 12.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, May 26, open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

August
Monday, August 04, up to Friday, August 08

December
Monday, December 22, up to Friday, January 07

  • Entry: free of charge

    Suitable for children: aged 12 and up

    Accessibility: the museum has wheelchair access and accessible restrooms.

    Visitor group registration: If you are coming with more than ten participants, please register in advance using the form.

    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.

  • Film, video and photo recordings for editorial, scientific and private purposes are permitted. We would be grateful if you would notify press@zeiss.com if an item is used for publication.

    Recordings for commercial use and distribution to third parties require the authorization of ZEISS Corporate Brand and Communications.

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

100 years of ZEISS Planetariums

Enabling journeys through space and time.

In 1923, ZEISS presented the world's first projection planetarium developed for the Deutsches Museum in Munich. The first public demonstration and hence the birth of the modern planetarium took place on this occasion.

Today, as modern high-tech domes, star theaters offer fascinating fulldome shows and are still a crowd puller after 100 years.

Find out more about our anniversary and the planetarium history
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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Group registration

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Please select one weekday (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays and days on which the company is closed). Please also check our homepage for last-minute closures.

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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