Cusanus birthplace
-
Cusanus Geburtshaus AußenfassadePhoto: Ferienland Bernkastel-Kues
The birthplace of Nicholas of Kues is now a museum and is located on the banks of the Moselle in Kues. Nicholas of Kues was one of the great universal scholars of the Renaissance: jurist, philosopher, theologian, astronomer and taught in many subjects. He was essentially influenced by his profession as priest and cardinal. He constantly looked for ways to God, but he realized that we cannot grasp God with our thinking.
The world-famous philosopher, mystic, natural scientist and cardinal Nikolaus of Kues was born in 1401 in the present museum. His birthplace contains the permanent exhibition "Nikolaus von Kues, 1401 - 1464, - Leben und Werk im Bild" ("Nicholas of Kues, 1401 - 1464, - Life and Work in Pictures"), a documentation by Dr. Helmut Gestrich in cooperation with the Landesbildstelle Rheinland-Pfalz and the Cusanus-Gesellschaft Bernkastel-Kues. The exhibition informs about the origin of Nicholas of Cues, his studies and education and his public activities, as well as about his St. Nicholas Hospital as a visible and his writings as a spiritual heritage. The presentation of his life stations as well as his great legation journey 1451/52 by Professor Erich Meuthen, the Globusspiel, the foundation deed of the hospital and numerous facsimile writings complete the documentation.
In this house he completed his main philosophical work "De docta ignorantia" on 12 February 1440, a work that stands like a landmark between the Middle Ages and modern times. It replaced medieval theology and its geocentric view of the world with a new interpretation of world construction. This even went beyond Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler and proved to be true even in the light of modern astrophysics of Albert Einstein.
The rooms of the birth house serve the cultural life of our time: art exhibitions, religious talks, lectures, music and also celebrations from different occasions take place here.
The Cusanus Birthplace is currently closed.
Opening hours
Opening hours 2021:
November 2021 closed
Saturday and Sunday: 11 - until 17 o'clock
Price:
Birthplace of Nicholas of CusaA large flag welcomes visitors to the house situated on Nikolausufer 49 in the district of Kues in Bernkastel-Kues. This is where the famous philosopher, mystic, natural scientist and cardinal was born in 1401. His birthplace hosts the permanent exhibition “Nicholas of Cusa, 1401 - 1464, Life and Works”, which is a documentary by Dr. Helmut Gestrich in collaboration with the state media centre of Rhineland-Palatinate (Landesbildstelle Rheinland-Pfalz) and the Cusanus Society Bernkastel-Kues. The exhibition informs about Nicholas of Cusas descent, his education, studies and ministry, his visible inheritance like the Cusanus Hospital, as well as his intellectual inheritance in his publications. Professor Erich Meuthen explains the stages of his life and his long legation of 1451/52. Apart from that, the globe game, the deed of foundation of the St. Nicholas Hospital as well as numerous facsimiles complement the collection.
On February 12, 1440 he accomplished his philosophical masterpiece “De docta ignorantia”, which is like a boundary stone between the Middle Ages and modern times, in this very house. It replaced medieval theology along with geocentrism with a new explanation of the cosmos, which even exceeded Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler and proved to be principally right in the light of the modern astrophysics of Albert Einstein.
Today, the birthplace of Nicholas of Cusa is the local centre of cultural life such as art exhibitions, colloquies, lectures, music and festivities on diverse occasions.
Opening times:
April 16 till October 31: Summer opening times Tuesday till Saturday from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Guided tours and large groups by appointment!
November 1 till April 15: Winter opening times Tuesday till Saturday from 1 p.m. till 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Guided tours and large groups by appointment!
Exhibition fees: Children up to 14 years: Free Young people, pupils, students, people with disabilities: 2,00 Euro Adults: 4,00 Euro With guest card: 3,00 Euro
Guided tours are charged separately. Please contact the administration.
Birthplace of Nicholas of Cusa - Cusanus Geburtshaus - Nikolausufer 49 54470 Bernkastel-Kues management: Gerhard W. Kluth ph.: 06531 - 2831 mail: geburtshaus(at)bernkastel-kues.de
More on Nicholas of Cusa at www.cusanus.de.
Coordinates
Accessibility
- Parking for people with disabilities
- Step-free access to the building/object/terrain (via elevator/ramp if necessary)
- All other rooms and facilities available to the guests are infinitely accessible by elevator or ramp
- 80 cm minimum width of all passageways/doors
- 70 cm minimum width of all passageways/doors
- Toilets for people with disabilities
- Lateral accessible toilet for a wheelchair
- Hinged grab rail in the toilet at least on the accessible side
All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - accessible for people with walking disabilities".
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- There is one marked parking space for people with disabilities.
- The path from the car park to the main entrance is 30 m long, not easy to walk and drive on and has a maximum longitudinal gradient of 9 % over a distance of 6 m.
- The building is accessible without steps via the side entrance.
- All evaluated rooms and facilities available to the guests are accessible at ground level or via an elevato
- The elevator cabin measures 159 cm x 139 cm. The elevator door is 90 cm wide.
- All evaluated passageways/doors available to the guests are at least 78 cm wide.
- The cash desk is at its lowest point 75 cm high.
- In the permanent exhibition, exhibits are predominantly visible while seated and information is predominantly readable while seated.
Public toilet for people with disabilities
- The manoeuvring spaces are:
in front of/behind the door, in front of the toilet and the washbasin at least 150 cm x 150 cm;
left and right of the toilet at least 90 cm x 70 cm. - There are grab rails available on the right and left of the toilet. The grab rails can be flipped-up.
- The sink is wheelchair compatible.
- An alarm trigger is available.
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- There is no alarm.
- There is no audio induction loop system.
- An outgoing emergency call in the elevator is confirmed audibly.
- In the permanent exhibition, the information is conveyed in written form.
- Assistance dogs are welcome
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- Assistance dogs are allowed in relevant areas/rooms.
- All evaluated and usable areas for the guest are well illuminated, i.e. bright and glare-free.
- The signage is partly designed in clearly legible and contrasting font.
- An outgoing emergency call in the elevator is confirmed audibly. The break position is announced by spoken commands. The operating controls are tactilely detectable.
- Steps are not visually rich in contrast.
- In the permanent exhibition, the information is conveyed in written form in high-contrast script.
- Information is not available in Braille or prismatic font.
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- The name or logo of the facility is clearly recognizable from the outside.
- In the permanent exhibition, the information is conveyed in written form.
- There is no information in easy language.
Certification period: January 01, 2023 - December 31, 2025
Cusanus birthplace
54470 Bernkastel-Kues
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others