Freilichtmuseum Schmiedleithen

About the museum

Schmiedleithen lies in a side valley near Leonstein and for generations was a centre of scythe production on the Eisenstraße (Iron Road). The owners of the hammer works, known locally as the “Black Counts”, worked at the hammer themselves but lived in manor houses befitting their station, cultivated their own hammer-master costume and even grew exotic plants in orangeries. The “Blue Scythe” from the Eisenwurzen was sold all over the world.

With the mechanisation of agriculture, scythe-smithing lost importance, and the hammers fell silent in the valley. The buildings remained astonishingly unchanged: manor houses, works buildings, stables, workshops, servants' houses, a manor garden and a farm form what, according to the association, is the only hammer-master ensemble in the Eisenwurzen preserved in such completeness. Most of the houses are still inhabited today, and descendants of the Zeitlinger scythe-smith family live in the two manor houses.

The association d’Hammerschmied, founded in 1995, opened the ensemble to the public as the first decentralised state exhibition in 1998 (“Land der Hämmer. Heimat Eisenwurzen”). Since then the theme trail “Auf den Spuren der Schwarzen Grafen” (In the Footsteps of the Black Counts), the exhibition in the “Kram” and the revived manor garden have been created. In the Kram, where scythes were once made ready for dispatch and painted, the exhibition commemorates the siblings Rudolf, Josef and Hermine Zeitlinger, the last Black Counts of Schmiedleithen. Annual festivals such as the Hammerschmiedfest are organised by the association.

Highlights

• Largely preserved hammer-master ensemble with manor houses and works buildings
• Exhibition “Die letzten Schwarzen Grafen” (The Last Black Counts) in the former Kram
• Historic manor garden with themed gardens covering over 3,000 m²
• “Auf den Spuren der Schwarzen Grafen” theme trail (2.5 or 4 km, suitable for prams)
• Hammerschmiedfest and other association events

Permanent exhibitions

• Die letzten Schwarzen Grafen – In the former Kram, where scythes were once made ready for dispatch, an exhibition is dedicated to the life of the Zeitlinger siblings.
• Herrschaftsgarten – Over 3,000 m² there are themed gardens such as the rose, stone, house, front and smithy gardens, a herb spiral and a glasshouse.

Operated by

Verein d’Hammerschmied

Admission & discounts

Admission covers the open-air museum, manor garden and exhibition. The theme trail is freely accessible.

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
• Stroller-friendly

School tour with a picture rally; the theme trail passes animals such as sheep, goats, ducks and horses and is suitable for prams.

Getting there & parking

Parking at the museum. The circular trail branches off the Steyrtal cycle path at Schloss Leonstein; other starting points are Schloss Leonstein and the riding stable “Moar im Baumgarten”.

Amenities & dining

Gartenstüberl (garden parlour) for group packages with a snack; places to stop for refreshments along the theme trail (riding stable “Moar im Baumgarten”, Jausenstation).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit