Freilichtmuseum Hayrl im Mühlendorf Reichenthal

About the museum

The mill village in Hayrl near Reichenthal commemorates the mills of the Mühlviertel and the miller's trade. It is run by the Museums- und Mühlenwegverein Reichenthal, which aims to preserve the history and culture of the region and to show the technical development of mills and sawmills. The background is the rapid decline of milling after the Second World War, when many traditional trades had to close in the course of industrialisation.

In the Kettenbach valley, a small village of mill and craft buildings has grown up on the extensive grounds: the house mill with a turning water wheel, a small bread-baking house, the village forge and a Venetian frame saw, with which timber can still be sawn, are all in working order. In addition there are a Mühlviertel three-sided farmstead, a memorial to the millers, an armoury with a fire pond, the open-air stage and the Hoamatstodl.

Several exhibitions have been set up in the buildings, such as one on glass art from Upper Austria and South Bohemia in the renovated manor mill, on flax and linen, on the journey from grain to bread, a clock exhibition with around 300 wall and table clocks, a cobbler's workshop and a radio museum. The mill village is also the destination of the 10-Mills Hiking Trail and the venue of the traditional Advent market.

Highlights

• Working house mill, village forge and small bread-baking house
• Venetian frame saw for sawing timber
• Glass art from Upper Austria and South Bohemia in the manor mill
• Clock exhibition with around 300 clocks
• Destination of the 10-Mills Hiking Trail and the "Wasserkraft anno dazumal" (Water Power in Days Gone By) discovery trail

Permanent exhibitions

• Herrenmühle: Glaskunst aus Oberösterreich und Südböhmen – Glass art from Upper Austria and South Bohemia in the renovated manor mill.
• Uhrenausstellung – Around 300 mechanical wall and table clocks.
• Hausmühle, Backhäusl, Schmiede und Venezianergatter – Working mill and craft technology of the Mühlviertel.

Operated by

Museums- und Mühlenwegverein Reichenthal

Admission & discounts

The prices apply to the guided tour; the grounds themselves can be visited freely.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly

Programmes for kindergartens, schools and families; the "Wasserkraft anno dazumal" discovery trail (approx. 1.5 km) is family-friendly, and walks on the grounds are suitable for pushchairs.

Getting there & parking

Info point right at the entrance. The mill village is the start and finish of the 10-Mills Hiking Trail (approx. 15 km) and of the discovery trail.

Amenities & dining

Catering at the Advent market in the Hoamatstodl; inns in the village (e.g. Gasthaus Lorenzmühle).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

The mill village can be booked for events and birthday parties and serves as a backdrop for wedding photos; open-air stage and Hoamatstodl available (contact tel. +43 660 631 85 250).

Plan your visit