Hachenburg

Westerwald Landscape Museum

Brief description

Welcome to eight typical buildings of the Westerwald!

This text was translated with deepl.com.

Detailed description

Would you like to experience the cultural history of the Westerwald on a journey through time? Go on a journey of discovery on a guided tour and let yourself be whisked away into the past of the Westerwald people. Stroll through the Westerwald Landscape Museum and find out how the lives of the Westerwald people have changed over the past centuries.

From court garden house to cultural museum

Once the court garden house of the Counts of Sayn in the extensive castle garden, it is now a place where Westerwald history comes to life: the Westerwald Landscape Museum. It opened its doors in 1976 with the aim of documenting the cultural history of the Westerwald for posterity and preserving the traditions of the region. In addition to private collections, it consists of the museum property of the orphaned Hachenburg local history museum and the museums in Montabaur and Altenkirchen. Over time, a museum village has developed around the museum on the outskirts of Hachenburg. Eight historical buildings from various places in the Westerwald have been professionally constructed here. The small open-air museum is a testimony to provincial life, living and working in the Westerwald in the 18th-20th centuries. Here, history buffs can find answers to the questions of our time: How were our ancestors educated? Which trades were typical back then?
How did the different social classes live differently? How did our ancestors master agriculture? The Westerwald Landscape Museum documents the evolution of the Westerwald way of life over two centuries. The 19th century schoolroom recreates the antiquated school routine and the dentist's surgery illustrates medical history. The oldest building in the museum, the barn built in 1680, houses antique agricultural equipment and the old oil mill from 1750 was the setting for processing rapeseed and linseed. There are also little secrets to be discovered amidst the historical diversity. For example, the last specimen of the ‘Westerwald cattle’, which became extinct in 1945, or the returning wolf of the Westerwald, which was quickly shot after 130 years. New exhibitions are constantly being added to the landscape museum, most recently a permanent exhibition on the history of the Westerwald. The original facets of the village are framed by the ancient half-timbered building and result in a loving reflection of the Westerwald's roots.

A different kind of museum experience

On a variation of action days, the Westerwald Landscape Museum is dedicated to very special traditions. The ancient village is brought back to life and is filled with activities for families and children. But on the ancient Westerwald farmsteads, you have to lend a hand: Customs, anecdotes and crafts are brought together under the umbrella of an interactive experience in which visitors can experience country life in a lively way. The nostalgic experiences of the Westerwald Landscape Museum are multiplied by the extensive museum shop. This combines Westerwald specialities ranging from honey and spirits to exciting literature from the region. Rounded off with the right maps for a hike in the Westerwald or exclusive minerals and jewellery, it offers small souvenirs and unique treasures. Guided tours can be booked directly at the museum for individual appointments or times. Workshops can also be organised on flexible dates for group trips or club outings. In addition, the Hachenburg Landscape Museum offers educational programmes for schools and kindergartens to wrap up the roots of the Westerwald in an educational experience.

This text was translated with the free translation tool Deepl.com.

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