A Place in the History of Science
The Röntgen Memorial Würzburg is located in the former Physical Institute of the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg – today a building of the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS). It was here that Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays on the late Friday evening of 8 November 1895.
The memorial has been open to the public since 1985. A major renovation took place in 2020 to mark the 125th anniversary of the discovery.
What to Expect
In the historic rooms, visitors can view original laboratory equipment and scientific instruments from Röntgen’s time. The permanent exhibition conveys the historical context of the discovery and illustrates Würzburg’s significance in the history of science.
A self-guided tour takes approximately 30–45 minutes. Group tours can be booked on request.
The Exhibition Rooms
Discovery Laboratory: The restored laboratory with the original apparatus – the exact spot where Röntgen discovered X-rays on 8 November 1895.
Entrance Room / Foyer: Documents, personal belongings and papers of Röntgen from various stages of his life.
Lecture Hall: The historic lecture hall in which Röntgen presented his discovery to the public on 23 January 1896 and gave a demonstration could unfortunately no longer be preserved. However, there is still a lecture hall in a similar location with the historic seating, which is actively used by the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt and can be visited as part of a guided group tour.
