Freilichtmuseum Ensemble Gerersdorf

About the museum

The impetus came from Gerhard Kisser of Vienna, who first came to southern Burgenland in 1970 and discovered the village's last thatched house in Gerersdorf. Impressed by the rural timber architecture, which was falling into ruin in many places at the time, he bought the first plot of land in 1972. His plan was to move valuable log buildings here and so save them from decay.

From 1973, the residential house from Tschanigraben and a Kellerstöckl (small cellar house) were dismantled and rebuilt, carried out by volunteers and thatching specialists. In 1976, the small group of six buildings was shown to the public for the first time as the “Ensemble Gerersdorf”. Over the following decades it grew into a village within the village, which today comprises 36 buildings and is regarded as the largest open-air museum in southern Burgenland.

The buildings consist mainly of wood, clay and straw and come from southern Burgenland, which belonged to Hungary until 1921, as well as from neighbouring western Hungary. They show the regional building tradition from the 18th to the middle of the 20th century, including residential houses, wine-press houses, granaries, a dovecote, a beehouse and a smithy. The association “Freunde des Freilichtmuseums Ensemble Gerersdorf”, founded in 1989, took over the museum from its founder in 1996 and has run it on a voluntary basis ever since. The programme also includes art exhibitions, courses in the workshops and events.

Highlights

• 36 buildings, mostly thatched residential and farm buildings
• Smoke kitchen in the oldest residential house from the 18th century
• Museum smithy with hands-on activities
• Wine-press houses with a beam press from 1822
• Tavern barn with food and drink and a village shop

Permanent exhibition

• Freilichtmuseum mit 36 Objekten – Thatched residential, wine-press and farm buildings of southern Burgenland and neighbouring western Hungary, with household goods and farm tools from the 18th to the middle of the 20th century.

Founded

1976

Operated by

Verein „Freunde des Freilichtmuseums Ensemble Gerersdorf“

Admission & discounts

Burgenland-Card, Steiermark-Card and NÖ-Card are accepted. Group packages with Uhudler tasting are available on request.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Family ticket; school classes can try out old games, work in the museum smithy or do pottery; at events there is pottery and woodturning for children.

Getting there & parking

From Vienna take the A2 to the Lafnitztal exit, then continue on the B57 to Bocksdorf and towards Gerersdorf. From Graz take the A2 to the Riegersdorf interchange, then the S7 towards Budapest, exit Rudersdorf to Gerersdorf.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Museum tavern in the tavern barn with drinks, regional snacks and a village shop; farmhouse buffet for groups by advance order.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Heated hall with a stage in the former barn of the Wunderlhaus; up to 80 people for celebrations and weddings, up to 100 for concerts, seminars and lectures.

Plan your visit