THE PATH TO FREEDOM, SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY, PROSPERITY FOR ALL

The 1,400 m² large permanent exhibition invites visitors to become acquainted with Ludwig Erhard, discover contemporary history and experience the social market economy. These three themes are a common thread running through the exhibition, with the dates from Erhard’s life and his home city of Fürth acting as reference points.

The guided tour starts in the heritage-protected house of his birth in the former apartment of the Erhard family. Many family photographs and artefacts belonging to the family and from their draper’s shop are displayed there to the public for the first time.

While the house of his birth in Fürth is dedicated to Ludwig Erhard, his biography and contemporary and economic history up to 1945, the distinctive new building directly opposite focuses on the politician Ludwig Erhard, his concept of the social market economy and the social development of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Instead of taking Ludwig Erhard’s death in 1977, the guided tour deliberately ends with how his ideas and work continue to live on. In this way the spectacular digital future space with interactive media installation is both the conclusion and highlight of the exhibition. A gigantic projection area enables visitors to contemplate the grand topics of our future such as globalization, digitalization, sustainability and demographic change.

In 2018, the future space was accepted onto the shortlist for the European Heritage in Motion Award. The award has a long tradition of rewarding the best examples of innovative multimedia and digital projects that are dedicated to Europe's cultural heritage.

With lots of exhibits, museum scenarios and more than 50 media stations, the LEZ presents history in a lively and entertaining fashion. The entire exhibition is also available in English.