Explore Esens through its history, museums and art in the townscape. When planning a stay, it helps to choose a focus: the Jewish Museum and the Leben am Meer Museum cover different historical subjects, while the Tower Museum and St. Magnus Church add perspectives on architecture and views across the town.
Jewish History and Everyday Culture
The August-Gottschalk-Haus Jewish Museum is housed in the former community centre of the Jewish community of Esens, built in 1899. Its permanent exhibition covers Jewish life in East Frisia up to the dissolution of the Jewish communities in 1940. Its main themes include everyday life, religious life and Jewish holidays, as well as persecution and extermination. The renovated mikveh is also open to visitors: the community’s ritual bath in Esens has been preserved in its original form.
The Leben am Meer Museum explores the settlement history of the Harlingerland region and the history of the town of Esens. An old watchmaker’s workshop and a tiled room illustrate the craft and everyday culture of the 19th and 20th centuries. Esens thus offers distinct museum visits focusing on Jewish community history and on regional and urban history.
Church, Tower and Views across Esens
The Tower Museum opened in 1982 in the tower of St. Magnus Church. There are 113 steps to the sound openings, from where the view stretches across the rooftops of Esens to the coast. The museum features a church clock mechanism dating from 1873 and a view inside the Rohlfs church organ from 1860.
The church itself offers a distinct architectural perspective: St. Magnus Church is a 57-metre-long, three-aisled hall church in the shape of a cross, with a choir and an eastern apse. Its Neo-Gothic interior has seating for 1,500. Those interested in church architecture will find different details here than in the Tower Museum, which focuses on the clock mechanism, a view of the organ and the outlook from the sound openings.
Art in the Townscape and Walking Tours
Discovering the town also means looking out for 52 Buddy Bears, considered attractions and photo opportunities for visitors and local residents. The sculpture trail in Esens features seven works of art. You can use the Esens Bear leaflet for a walking tour; it is available to download and from the tourist information office.
A guided town tour takes you across the market square, through the pedestrian zone and along the former ramparts. Along the way, it provides insights into the town’s past and present. The leaflet is a guide for exploring on your own, while the guided tour links specific places with explanations of the town’s history.
Events and Planning Your Visit
The Esens small arts festival is an annual tradition in the old town. The programme includes street theatre, variety performances, acrobatics, clowning and music; individual programme details may change. Another annual event is scheduled for the last Friday in October: pumpkins, costumes and spooky characters, family activities and performances in the market square give it an autumnal focus. If you would like to plan your trip around a particular event, check the dates and programme in advance.
Bus route K1 takes just a few minutes to reach the “Krankenhaus” stop opposite the Leben am Meer Museum. Routes and stop locations may change, so check the latest connection before travelling. This makes it possible to plan museum visits, architecture and art in the townscape around your own interests, without combining the different offerings into a single walking tour.
Discover more destinations: Bensersiel, Thunum, Stedesdorf, Wittmund, Friedeburg, Nenndorf, Werdum, Westerholt.
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