Augsburg Puppet Theatre (Augsburger Puppenkiste)

For generations of German children, TV time began with a box lid slowly opening. Behind it, Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver, the Urmel or Kater Mikesch danced on strings. The Augsburger Puppenkiste has performed since 1948 in the historic Holy Spirit Hospital by the Red Gate, and upstairs the famous marionettes are on show in the museum "die Kiste". It is a place for children, but just as much for adults rediscovering their childhood.

History: from puppet shrine to puppet box

In 1943 Walter and Rose Oehmichen and their daughters founded a tiny marionette theatre, the "Puppenschrein", which fitted into a doorway. It burned in an air raid on the night of 26 February 1944, but Walter had taken the puppets home. Exactly four years later, on 26 February 1948, the family opened the Augsburger Puppenkiste with "Puss in Boots". The name was practical: the new theatre was meant to fit entirely into a box.

Daughter Hannelore Oehmichen, who secretly carved her first figure at 13, created the famous "stars on strings". Television productions from 1953 made the theatre known across Germany. Her son Klaus Marschall now runs it in the third generation.

What to see

• Museum "die Kiste": 650 m² of original puppets, stage sets, designs and costume drawings: Jim Button, Luke, the Urmel, Kater Mikesch, Kalle Wirsch and many more.
• Cinemas: Two small cinemas show the TV classics of six decades all year round.
• Special exhibition: "Abenteuer Museum" for the museum's 25th birthday runs until 22 November 2026.
• Theatre: Fairy tales in the afternoon, plays for adults in the evening, on a stage opening just 0.90 by 2 metres.
• Holy Spirit Hospital: A Renaissance building by Augsburg's city architect Elias Holl, with an arcaded courtyard.

Good to know

With over 1.4 million visitors since opening, die Kiste is considered Europe's most successful puppet theatre museum.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

Museum: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00–18:00, last entry 17:00, until 19:30 on evenings with public performances. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays and on 1 January and 24, 25 and 31 December. Adults €6, children aged 4–14 €3.80, families €14.80. Theatre tickets: €12–19.50 for afternoon shows, €25–39 for evening shows. From 11 to about 27 November 2026 the lift is being renovated and the museum is reachable by stairs only.

Getting there

Spitalgasse 15, by the Red Gate. From the main station take tram 3 or 6 to "Rotes Tor". Drivers should use the City-Galerie car park, about ten minutes on foot.

Tripto tip

Allow one to one and a half hours for the museum. If you want to see a show, book tickets in advance, especially for weekends and Advent. St Ulrich and St Afra is just a few minutes' walk away.