Kärntner Freilichtmuseum Maria Saal

About the museum

The museum's roots go back to the 1930s: in 1936 the Carinthian History Society made a first payment for the Bodnerhaus from St. Oswald near Bad Kleinkirchheim, and the purchase was completed in 1951. The house was first rebuilt in 1952 on the Kreuzbergl in Klagenfurt. As space there ran out, the buildings moved to Maria Saal in the 1960s, where the open-air museum opened on 22 August 1972. It is considered the oldest museum of its kind in Austria and today belongs to the Carinthian State Museum (kärnten.museum) as one of its sites.

On about four hectares and four terraces of land stand 36 buildings from six centuries. Residential and farm buildings from different parts of the province show how farming families and farmhands lived and worked. The oldest building is the Bodnerhaus with its smoke kitchen, whose timbers were felled in 1469 according to tree-ring dating. Also on site are, for example, the Hanebauerhaus as a Lower Carinthian farm type, the Kramerhaus from the upper Gurktal and the Urchhaus of 1882 with a grocer's shop from the early 20th century.

Besides the houses, visitors can see pre-industrial installations of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Floder and wheel mills, a sawmill, a lime kiln and a bridge scale, as well as farm and herb gardens and traditional fence types. Theme days, craft demonstrations, customs at Easter and in Advent, and a family Advent at the end of the year bring the grounds to life.

Highlights

• Bodnerhaus with timbers from 1469 – Austria's oldest dated log building
• 36 buildings from six centuries on four terraces
• Floder and wheel mills, sawmill, lime kiln and bridge scale
• Urchhaus with a grocer's shop from the early 20th century
• Farm and herb gardens with historic fence types
• Family puzzle trail "Der Schatzjäger" (The Treasure Hunter)

Permanent exhibition

• Bäuerliche Haus- und Hofformen Kärntens – A tour of 36 relocated farmhouses, farm buildings, mills and gardens from different Carinthian regions, showing life and work in the countryside over six centuries.

Founded

1972

Operated by

Landesmuseum für Kärnten (kärnten.museum)

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Kärnten Card, the Kulturpass "Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur" and ICOM and Museumsbund cards. Discounts include with the Kultur Card Kärnten (−50%), Club Ö1 (−30%) and Wörthersee Plus Card (−50% for adults); participants in the Maria Saal carriage rides receive 50% off. Show proof at the ticket desk.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Daily puzzle trail "Der Schatzjäger" with a map and a small surprise, changing play stations around the grounds, as well as memory games and writing slates in some parlours. Theme days, workshops, Easter customs and family Advent.

Getting there & parking

By car from Klagenfurt via St. Veiter Straße onto the S37, exit 297B Maria Saal; after the railway overpass turn sharp right onto the L86 and after the village centre turn left.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

Rustic inn for refreshments.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit