On a discovery tour with the museum director - Alzey in person

Since the beginning of 2025, economic archaeologist Prof. Dr. Tim Kerig has headed the Museum the City of Alzey. His previous positions in Stuttgart, Cologne, Denmark, Switzerland, the USA and England as well as excavations in Central European countries and Iraq have given him a great deal of foresight.

Alzey - Charming and worth living in

Some say: the secret capital of Rheinhessen. In any case, Alzey is a charming town with a rich history and culture. The lively mix of sightseeing, shopping, eating out, events and excursions is what makes it so attractive. This also inspires Tim Kerig, who is discovering more and more favorite places as a new resident: „The city is friendly and hospitable. It has retained its old town center and small-scale structure, while at the same time continuing to develop with a great deal of civic commitment.“

Relaxed horse market

The heart of the city pulsates at the central Rossmarkt, which is adorned with pretty half-timbered houses. The square is dominated by a fountain dedicated to Volker von Alzey from the Song of the Nibelungs. The bronze horse Max towers over the life-size water fountains without a rider.

Tim Kerig likes the idea of Volker getting off his high horse: „It allows the children to climb into the saddle. It's nice to see them having fun“.

Regional and international delicacies

Whether in the middle of the action or a little off the beaten track, Tim Kerig has already discovered that the culinary offerings between the museum and Rossmarkt are wide-ranging. The wine bar with Rhine-Hessian specialties, the wine bar with international delicacies and the ice cream café offer front-row seats at the Volkerbrunnen. Directly on the Museumsplatz, Tim Kerig appreciates the Café Selzgold as a specialist for coffee. A short trip to the traditional Poppenschenke is worthwhile, where you can enjoy delicious home-cured meats.

Shopping pleasure

The route from the museum to the city center leads along the lively pedestrian zone of Antoniterstraße - a real shopping mile. Many individual, owner-managed stores survive in Alzey: for clothing, shoes, toys and much more. The museum director likes to pop into the Machwirth bookshop: „We also organize readings together.“ Another stop is the local butchers: „You can bite into any sausage there with relish, not just the Fleischwurst, the region's signature sausage„.

Historical discoveries

A beautiful walking route leads from Rossmarkt through the archways to the castle. In the inner courtyard, the historic walls and trees invite you to relax. The route continues through idyllic alleyways to sights such as the Renaissance town hall with its carillon and the fish market with the Undine Fountain. The remains of the city wall with its restored towers also exude flair. There are works of art and monuments everywhere, such as the bust of Alzey vine grower Georg Scheu. We have him to thank for varieties such as Scheurebe and Würzer.

Wine tasting and gifting

Speaking of vines: „With the region's excellent wines, you should simply try them, for example in the Rheinhessen-AUSGEZEICHNET Wine shops in the winery of the city of Alzey or in the Wine Hotel Kaisergarten, says Tim Kerig. Many of the fossilized museum pieces were found in the vineyards. He therefore prefers to give away good wines from such sites to colleagues.

Da Capo and Roman festival

The colorful calendar of events includes the annual Da Capo Open Air Festival with stars from the pop, jazz and rock scene was a highlight. Tim Kerig reports: „The atmosphere at Da Capo in the beautiful castle courtyard was great“. He is looking forward to the Roman festival, which takes place every two years and demonstrates aspects of everyday Roman life. Between the even-numbered years with a Roman festival, there is a Roman day around the museum. The last one was about Roman food and drink. Educational and tasty.

Active: Time travel

In his free time, Tim Kerig enjoys hiking in the vineyards and nearby Rheinhessen Switzerland. He is particularly fascinated by the Weinheim Bay - „a journey back in time to the geological past“. The entire region was flooded by a sea 30 million years ago, which is why fossils can still be found today. The Rheinhessen coastal path offers the rare opportunity to experience globally significant natural monuments along the former coast.

The museum of the city of Alzey: 300 million years of history(s)

„We are a modern multi-disciplinary museum with pieces from 300 million years of history, many events, special exhibitions and guided tours. We show regional geology-palaeontology, prehistory and early history, a Roman section as well as folklore and regional studies,“ summarizes Prof. Dr. Tim Kerig. Some of the finds from Rheinhessen are of international significance.
Erotic baking model: The folklore and regional studies section is broadly based. What was everyday Jewish life like? What was the significance of Volker von Alzey from the Song of the Nibelungs? Or baking models, i.e. baking tins, with discreet, erotic depictions from the 18th century. The utensils, crockery and clothing show how similar or different everyday life was in the past - and how it has always been in a state of constant change.
Mediterranean luxury import: The fascinating Celtic pieces include richly decorated weapons and jewelry. The wine amphora from a Celtic grave from the 1st century BC shows how interwoven the world was even back then. It comes from the Mediterranean region - a „luxury import“.

Cuddly manatees: These popular animals once lived in Rheinhessen. The museum documents them together: the finds, the reconstruction of the skeleton and, above it, a „real“ manatee made by children from Alzey. „We bring the past to life,“ emphasizes Tim Kerig

Eye-catcher stone hall: Its sculptural architecture makes it an eye-catcher from the outside. Inside, it is home to an impressive collection from Roman times, such as Jupiter columns and four gods' stones with Venus, Minerva and Apollo.