Klostertal Museum
Valley museum in the Thöny farmstead from the 17th century: farm life, valley history, the Arlberg Railway, the postal service and tourism.
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About the museum
The Klostertal Museum is housed in the former Thöny farmstead in the Außerwald district of Wald am Arlberg. The farm was built around the middle of the 17th century and belonged in turn to the Wachter, Schuler and Thöny families. It was inhabited and farmed until 1959; then Valentin Thöny moved to Innsbruck to study theology, and the property stood largely empty. As a result it was spared alterations, and a large part of the original household goods and working tools has survived.
Since the early 1980s there had been efforts in the Klostertal to establish a valley museum. While looking for a location, people came across the Thöny farmstead, which was converted into a museum over more than ten years of work; the Klostertal Museum opened in June 1994. From the outset it was meant to be a museum "of a different kind", deliberately distancing itself from idealising nostalgia for the homeland.
The exhibition follows four main themes: farm living and working; history, social history and artist personalities of the valley; transport history with the railway, postal service and tourism; and changing special exhibitions. Since September 2019 there has been an audio guide in 20 chapters with eyewitness interviews, and since May 2021 also in English. The Klostertal Museum Association, founded in 2001, makes the house the cultural centre of the valley with events, lectures and children's programmes.
Highlights
- 17th-century Thöny farmstead with largely original household goods
- Transport history of the valley: Arlberg Railway, postal service and tourism
- Social history and personalities of the Klostertal
- Audio guide with eyewitness interviews in German and English
Permanent exhibition
- Dauerausstellung im Thöny-Hof – The permanent collection shows farm living and working, social history and artist personalities of the valley, as well as the railway, postal service and tourism.
- Founded
- 1994
- Operated by
- Museumsverein Klostertal
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1 |
| Groups | €6 per personTour per person; from 30 people €5 per person |
| Families | –Adults and one child pay, additional children free |
Free for members of the museum association. Free with the Brandnertal/Bludenz/Klostertal guest card, free once with the V-CARD, and always free for young people with the AHA Card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The museum association organises a children's university with workshops (some lasting all day); the family rate limits the cost to one adult and one child.
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.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN) |
| Good to know | Audio guide by Hearonymus (20 chapters, eyewitness interviews) via app. Tours for groups cost €6 per person and are also offered outside opening hours after registration. |
