Museum Bezau

About the museum

The museum grew out of the collecting passion of Anna Katharina Feuerstein (1856–1935). She recognised early on that the region’s cultural heritage was in danger of being lost, gathered everyday objects and, together with the Heimatschutzverein, acquired house no. 181 in the Ellenbogen district. The local history museum has been housed there since 1920.

The listed building is a shingle-clad log house from the 18th century, typical of the Hinterer Bregenzerwald. From the Schopf (shed) the path leads to the kitchen with an open hearth, the parlour with a clay stove and the parents’ bedroom. In recent years the old house was complemented by a timber extension by Innauer Matt Architekten, built in the proportions of a “Wälderhaus” and mostly constructed by regional craft businesses; the project received the Austrian Bauherrenpreis 2025.

The museum is run by the volunteer-based Museumsverein Bezau. The permanent exhibition is divided into four narrative strands: the Bregenzerwald domestic culture in the kitchen, parlour and bedroom; the lives and craft skills of women, including traditional costume; the master builders of the Baroque era; and the question of how the Bregenzerwald sees itself and how others see it. There are also changing special exhibitions.

Highlights

• Originally furnished living rooms: kitchen, parlour and bedroom of a Bregenzerwald farmhouse
• Exhibition area on women, embroidery home work and Bregenzerwald traditional costume
• The Baroque master builders of the Bregenzerwald and the history of their guilds
• Listed house with an award-winning timber extension

Permanent exhibitions

• Bregenzerwälder Wohnkultur – The kitchen, parlour and bedroom of the farmhouse show how people in the Bregenzerwald used to live and work.
• Frauen im Bregenzerwald – This section is devoted to craftsmanship, embroidery home work and traditional costume as a visible expression of women’s craft skills.
• Barockbaumeisterlich – The exhibition tells of the master builders who worked all over Europe after the Thirty Years’ War, and of their guilds.

Operated by

Museumsverein Bezau

Director

Theresia Fröwis

Admission & discounts

10% discount on admission with the Gäste-Card Bregenzerwald. Members of the Museumsverein have free admission all year round.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All exhibition areas are accessible without steps; the modern extension connects with the old house.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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