The 'Arche Nebra' Discovery Center in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, recorded record attendance last year. According to the facility's management report, approximately 60,000 people visited the complex in 2025. This impressive result shows the growing interest in archaeoastronomy and the region's unique heritage related to the so-called Nebra Sky Disc. This success highlights the importance of a modern, interactive museum offering in attracting a broad audience to scientific topics.
Attendance Record in 2025
The Arche Nebra Center in Wangen welcomed approximately 60,000 guests last year. This number confirms a sustained upward trend in interest in the facility since its opening and represents a significant contribution to the region's cultural tourism.
Nebra Sky Disc as a Magnet
The main attraction of the center is the famous Nebra Sky Disc, considered one of the oldest known representations of the cosmos. The discovery of this artifact in 1999 revolutionized knowledge about the Bronze and Iron Ages in Central Europe.
Modern Exhibition Format
Arche Nebra is not a traditional museum but a modern discovery center with interactive exhibitions, planetarium shows, and a trail to the Mittelberg hill where the disc was found. This format effectively educates and engages visitors.
Strengthening Regional Tourism
The record attendance has a positive impact on the local economy of Saxony-Anhalt. The center has become a key point on the map of archaeological and scientific tourism in Germany, attracting guests from across the country and abroad.
The 'Arche Nebra' Discovery Center (Himmelsscheibe erleben) in Wangen, Saxony-Anhalt, recorded exceptional attendance success in 2025. According to the facility's management report, the complex was visited by approximately 60,000 people over twelve months. This impressive number not only confirms the steady growth in the center's popularity since its opening but also highlights the effectiveness of the modern, interactive formula for presenting archaeological heritage. The main magnet attracting crowds is undoubtedly the famous Nebra Sky Disc, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century in Europe.The Nebra Sky Disc, dated to around 1600 BC, was illegally excavated by looters in 1999 on the Mittelberg hill, near the town of Nebra. The artifact, made of bronze and covered with gold appliqués depicting the sun, moon, and stars, is considered the oldest known realistic representation of the cosmos. Its discovery radically changed the perception of the Bronze Age in Central Europe, indicating advanced astronomical knowledge and complex religious beliefs of the local communities. After years of research and a legal process, the disc ended up in the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, and a special center was built in the discovery region for its presentation.Arche Nebra, opened in 2007, was created specifically to present this extraordinary find and its context. However, it is not a classic museum gathering artifacts in display cases. Its philosophy is based on the idea of 'experiencing the sky disc,' realized through modern, multimedia exhibitions, shows in a technologically advanced planetarium, and an educational trail leading to the very top of the Mittelberg hill, the discovery site. This immersive formula, combining science with experience, has proven key to success in attracting a diverse audience – from school trips to families and international tourists.The record attendance in 2025 has tangible significance for the Saxony-Anhalt region. Arche Nebra has become a flagship cultural and scientific institution, significantly contributing to the development of cultural tourism in this part of Germany. Its success shows that investments in high-quality educational infrastructure, which tells the story of local, unique heritage in an attractive way, can bring excellent results both in terms of visitor numbers and building the region's brand. Reaching the threshold of 60,000 guests in one year solidifies the center's position as one of the leading sites on the map of European archaeological tourism.