Toy Museum

Outdoor Play and Marvels in the Dark

Between early May and late October, a large, attractively designed outdoor play area (700 square metres) is available for children and families.

Under the heading "Play in Former Times", little ones and not so little ones, guided by our expert staff, may have hands-on play experience and try out long-forgotten games from great-grandmother's times - for who remembers today how a spinning top works, how to bowl a hoop or what games can be played with marbles?

There are also historical amusements such as "Russian Skittles" or classic hopscotch games which may be tried out here. Children may test their skills on the double climbing net or on the balancing beam, follow the course of wooden balls on the big ball track fashioned from oak trunks or explore a hedge labyrinth. Distorting mirrors, a large kaleidoscope and a backdrop with interchangeable colour fields provide interesting optical impressions. Text and picture panels on a thoroughly refurbished advertising column explain the origin and the rules of these games and toys from the past.

At the same time, the new museum unit "Shadowland" lures visitors into late mediaeval cellar vaults: in the course of a 30-minute guided tour, visitors may find out why playing with light and shade has always fascinated people and has led to the development of a great variety of optical toys. Shadow figures and projected figures adorn the walls, 3-D-spectacles show toys from the museum's collection from an unusual perspective. Teddy bears perform a little break dance. And lightning-speed camera movements from Willy Bogner's film "Ski to the Max" take spectators into the world of fast images from ice and snow. And there is much, much more...

In the summer months, the idyllic museum courtyard with its typical Nuremberg baluster gallery features the new museum café "La Kritz" which invites visitors for a leisurely break with coffee and cake, cold drinks and little treats. Horst Dornberger, the cafe´'s patron, looks forward to meeting many Toy Museum visitors...
Café "La Kritz"
<http://www.cafelakritz.de>

Out of consideration for the neighbours, the outdoor play area will unfortunately not be available between 1 and 3 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. Guided tours of the "Shadowland" are offered at weekends, between 12 an 3 p.m., every hour on the hour.

In spite of the considerable investment needed, there is no extra charge for the visit to the outdoor play area and the "Shadowland".