Mostviertler Bauernmuseum

About the museum

The collection began in the early 1970s through the retired farmer Anton Distelberger Sr., who wanted to preserve the culture of his Mostviertel ancestors for future generations. It is considered Austria’s largest private folklore collection and comprises more than 22,000 objects.

It is housed in 15 rooms and buildings of a roughly 900-year-old Vierkanthof (four-sided farmstead) in Gigerreith near Amstetten. On display are the working and living world of the farmers, workshops of 20 different crafts, rural customs, faith and superstition, and toys from earlier generations. One room is an old grocery shop, the “Gemischte Waarenhandlung” (general goods store); the holdings also include curiosities such as a collection of mousetraps.

A focus is the cider culture: in the 19th century the trade in Most (cider) brought prosperity to the farmers of the Mostviertel and financed their stately Vierkanthöfe. Today the Distelberger-Pfligl family runs the farm as a “Genussbauernhof” (farm for good food and drink) with a cider tavern (Mostheuriger), and the retired farmer leads groups through his collection.

Highlights

• More than 22,000 objects from farm and craft life
• Workshops of 20 crafts and an old grocery shop (Greißlerei)
• Tour through 15 rooms and buildings of a 900-year-old Vierkanthof
• Cider culture, including old cider jugs
• Personal guided tours by the collector

Permanent exhibitions

• Mostviertler Bauernmuseum – Folklore collection on the living and working world of Mostviertel farmers, with workshops of 20 crafts, customs, toys, and cider culture.
• Gemischte Waarenhandlung – Furnished old grocery shop as one of the 15 rooms and buildings of the museum.

Operated by

Pfligl OG (GenussBauernhof Distelberger)

Admission & discounts

Prices 2026. For groups of 20 or more there are combination offers with a specialty tasting and a Heuriger snack platter.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

By car, the museum is 1.5 km from the A1 Amstetten West exit: at the roundabout take the third exit, then at the ÖAMTC turn left toward Grein and follow the signs “Distelberger” or “Mostviertler Bauernmuseum.”

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

GenussLaden (food shop) with fruit products, open Wednesday to Friday mornings and also Wednesday afternoons, and a cider tavern (Mostheuriger) on the farm’s “Ausg’steckt” (tavern open) days.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

For groups of 20 or more (family celebrations, birthdays, company events, tour groups), the farm arranges celebrations and programs by arrangement.

Plan your visit