Cusanus' Birthplace

The house in which Nikolaus of Cusa was born lies at the Nikolasufer in the district of Kues. Cusa was a philosopher, Bishop of Brixen and later a cardinal and Vicar General in Rome. He was born here as the son of a wealthy Mosel skipper and vintner. Today the house is no longer in its original late Gothic mansion style. The Renaissance building with the characteristic white and red turrets built upon the foundation walls dates back to the year 1570. After the house had virtually fallen into disrepair, it was completely renovated by the Cusanus Society in the 80s and reconstructed in exact accordance with the structure of 1570.

Today the rooms of Cusanus' birthplace are devoted to the culture of our times and incorporate alternating art exhibitions alongside the permanent exhibition "Nikolaus of Cusa 1401-1464". The exhibition portrays the life and work of the cardinal in pictures. It recounts the origins of Nikolaus of Cusa, his education, his public work, his writings and his visible legacy, the hospital.

If you visit Cusanus' birthplace you are recommended to do some advance research into the great luminary Nikolaus of Cusa. For here without doubt we are talking not just of a regional visionary, but also of a most prominent persona of western intellectual history.