Holz- und Werkzeugmuseum LIGNORAMA

About the museum

The association Holz- und Werkzeugmuseum LIGNORAMA was founded in September 1996 with the aim of creating a museum in Riedau on wood as a raw material and on the history and present of its processing. The main building was designed in 1996 by the Vorarlberg architects' team Kaufmann 96. In 1998 it served as the Austria House at the Olympic Winter Games in Hakuba (Nagano) and received the Vorarlberg Timber Construction Prize in the same year.

After the Games the house was dismantled in Japan, shipped to Austria in 16 containers and re-erected in Riedau next to the old sawmill within three weeks; the Leitz company from Riedau and the Wiesner & Hager company from Altheim carried the project. The house has been a museum since 2001 and extends over about 600 square metres in the former Olympic house, in the old sawmill and in the park.

On display are, among other things, the "Stöckigt Xylothek" with more than 1,400 wood samples from around the world, an interactive wall, a wood laboratory with experiments, a historical carpenter's workshop, traditional woodworking trades, modern tools, a specialist library and, in the renovated sawmill, a working Venetian frame saw. The upper floor is reserved for changing exhibitions, and wooden sculptures stand in the park.

Highlights

• Former Austria House of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games
• "Stöckigt Xylothek" with more than 1,400 types of wood
• Interactive wood wall and wood laboratory for hands-on experimenting
• Historical carpenter's workshop and Venetian frame saw
• Park with wooden sculptures and a guessing trail

Permanent exhibitions

• Holzmustersammlung und Holzbibliothek – The Stöckigt Xylothek shows more than 1,400 types of wood from around the world, along with a specialist library on the subject of wood.
• Holz-Erlebniswand und Holzlabor – Experience wood with all your senses and explore its properties yourself in small experiments.
• Renoviertes Sägewerk – The forest as a habitat and a working Venetian frame saw, which is demonstrated on request.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Verein Holz- und Werkzeugmuseum LIGNORAMA

Admission & discounts

Reductions with the guest cards Vitalwelt and s' Innviertel, Raiffeisen Aktiv Club, membership card of the museum association and of the Pramtal Museum Road, and the Upper Austria Tourism employee card. Prices remain unchanged for special exhibitions.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the operator, the museum is not wheelchair accessible; guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Interactive wood wall and wood laboratory to try out, guessing trail in the park, workshops such as "The Great Wood Spectacle" with over 10,000 wooden building blocks.

Getting there & parking

The Lignorama is in the town centre of Riedau opposite the church, on the B 137 between Ried and Schärding; Riedau can also be reached by train.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop on the ground floor with gifts, books, toys and wooden handicrafts.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 150 guests.

Upper floor in the Olympic house: approx. 100–150 people with cinema-style seating or 50–60 seated at tables; lower floor in the sawmill for film screenings approx. 20–23 people. Rental subject to availability alongside the exhibitions.

Plan your visit