Mühlenensemble Gastein

About the museum

The mill ensemble lies on the Gasteiner Höhenweg above Bad Hofgastein at about 960 meters' altitude and shows two very different types of mill. First you reach the Rauchbergmühle, an overshot water-wheel mill that belongs to one of the smallest mountain farms in the valley. It ran until 1965, the year Gastein gave up growing grain, and then fell into disrepair. A regular guest from Münster initiated its restoration: local craftsmen renewed the shingle roof and the water wheel, which is three meters in diameter; the millstones are still the originals. The renovation was completed in 1992. The water comes from two small streams, which carry little water in dry years.

Somewhat lower down and off the path stands the Bocksbergmühle, a Flodermühle (stock mill) with a horizontal water wheel. Its predecessor on this site was demolished in 1940, but the foundation walls were preserved. In 2000 a rescuer of cultural heritage bought a Flodermühle in Stampfen in the Mölltal; it was dismantled there, brought to Bad Hofgastein in 2001, and rebuilt on the old walls. It opened in October 2002 as part of the Bauernherbst (farmers’ autumn festival). This type was originally the more common one in the valley: a tax list from 1550 names 143 mills, of which only 16 were overshot water-wheel mills.

In addition there is a bread oven, rebuilt to the dimensions of the old oven at the Rauchberggut and showing a typical small-farm oven for about nine small loaves. The ensemble is looked after by two custodians; it presents itself as a hands-on mill museum.

Highlights

• Rauchbergmühle: overshot water-wheel mill with original millstones
• Bocksbergmühle: Flodermühle from the Mölltal
• Reconstructed bread oven of a small farm
• Located right on the Gasteiner Höhenweg
• Hands-on mill museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Rauchbergmühle – Overshot water-wheel mill right on the trail, in operation until 1965 and working again today.
• Bocksbergmühle – Rebuilt Flodermühle with a horizontal water wheel, a short way off the path.
• Backofen – Full-size replica of the old small-farm oven from the Rauchberggut.

Founded

1999

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Getting there & parking

The mills lie directly on the Gasteiner Höhenweg; the Rauchbergmühle is in the Kronwald district of Bad Hofgastein.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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