The Leprosy Museum in the district of Kinderhaus in Münster deals with the history, the spread and the fight against the disease leprosy. It is the only museum in Germany with this focus.

Here you will get an insight into the life of leprous people in Europe during the Middle Ages and early modern times. You will learn about medical and biological aspects of the disease and artistic representations related to leprosy. In addition, the problem of forgetting the disease today and the education that is still necessary because of it will be explained.

There are special and traveling exhibitions on the subject of leprosy, as well as specialized talks, discussions, lectures and publications. Guided tours through the museum and its grounds are offered to anyone interested, including school classes of all ages. The duration and content of the tours can be arranged individually by you and your group with the museum staff. Possible topics include the everyday life of leprosy patients, the change in attitude from the church to the afflicted, or today's situation and care of leprosy patients in affected countries.

The museum was opened in 1986 on the initiative of the Gesellschaft für Leprakunde e.V. (Society for Leprosy Studies), which is also the museum's sponsor. Its location has a historical connection to the disease: the museum is situated on the site of the former leprosy hospital of the city of Münster from the Middle Ages and early modern times. At that time, as in other cities, it was located outside the city walls, where the leprous patients were separated and isolated from the healthy people in the city. The so-called "Lazarus House" with stone sculptures of Lazarus and St. Gertrude, the patrons of the leprosy patients, has been preserved as a part of the site of that time (picture below). The site was given to the Society for Leprosy Studies by the city of Münster.

For more information about the Leprosy Museum, its offerings, and leprosy in general, visit the museum's website (website only available in German).

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Further information:

• Wikipedia article Leprosy disease (English article)