Toy Museum

Cute teddy bears, wind-up cars, little scooters and doll’s houses are far more than just ‘toys’. And the ‘Toy Museum’ gives these nostalgic early-childhood throwbacks the appreciation they deserve.

And is it any wonder; for it was founded by two avid collectors: Rolf Scheurich, greatly influenced by his parents’ toyshop, had become a keen fan of tin toys and railways by as early as the 1950s. His wife, Heidi Scheurich, chipped in with her love of dolls. In other words, the perfect basis for establishing an extensive toy collection ranging from ancient times to the present day, and which was opened to the public in 1989. The museum is now run by the ‘Trier Toy Museum’ association, and not only boasts regular special exhibitions, but also a colourful, fun permanent exhibition packed full of more than 5,000 display items.

It is a haven not just for lovers of tin toys and figures, Lego and Märklin-buildong blocks, railways and Schuco cars, dolls and doll’s houses; fans of the famous Steiff animals will get their money’s worth here too. Erik the bat, a very special and rare Steiff animal from the 1960s, is one of the characters to have found a new home here, along with a whole host of his lively buddies from the most diverse of animal families, who potter about in the historic city setting just as the little elves once did. Other highlights include a tin dancing bear from 1880, who can today still swing his dancing leg, and ‘Edmund’s zoo’, with its countless intricately crafted Elastolin figures.