The museum has 40 rooms and covers an area of 3,000 square metres in the Französischer Bau (French building) of the fortress.

It is composed of the Germanic National Museum, the Thuringian Foundation of Palaces and Gardens and the German Historical Museum, also the district Hildburghausen, the city of Bad Colberg-Heldburg, South Thuringia Chamber of Commerce and other associations and companies.

Initially, the opening of the museum was planned for 2011; however, the renovation work was delayed, and the construction work for the renovation of the fortress was started in June 2009.

The opening ceremony of the German Burgenmuseum took place on 8 September 2016.

Since September 9, 2016, the museum has been opened for regular visitor traffic.