Museumsdorf Niedersulz

About the museum

The foundation was laid by Josef Geissler, a church painter from Niedersulz, who from the mid-1960s collected everyday farming items. In 1977 he first displayed his finds as the "Weinviertler Dorfmuseum" in the village's disused primary school. When space ran out, the municipality of Sulz made an area of about five hectares on the Sulzbach available, and in 1979 Geissler moved a more than 200-year-old Streckhof (long farmstead) from Bad Pirawarth there – the beginning of the Museumsdorf.

In the following decades the village grew farmstead by farmstead into a typical Weinviertel village row along the stream. Craftsmen's houses, chapels, a mill, a Kellergasse (cellar lane) with press houses, an inn with a grocery shop and the primary school from Gaiselberg were added. Richard Edl developed the concept of joining building components of different origins into coherent farm complexes, and documented the history of the houses. In parallel, an extensive ethnographic collection came into being.

Until 2007 an association ran the museum; since then a foundation and an operating company with the participation of the State of Lower Austria have secured its operation. In 2012 a new entrance building opened on the Schmalzberg. Today the site covers around 22 hectares with about 80 objects, organically maintained house and show gardens, around 340 historic fruit varieties and a "Living Farm" with old breeds of farm animals.

Highlights

• Around 80 faithfully re-erected farmsteads, workshops, chapels and press houses
• Primary school from Gaiselberg with teacher's apartment and school garden
• "Living Farm" with goats, pigs, donkeys and poultry
• Farm gardens and around 340 historic fruit tree varieties
• Village inn in the stately Jägerhaus from Hohenau
• Kellergasse with a wine bar of regional winemakers

Permanent exhibition

• Auf Rädern und Kufen – Transportfahrzeuge anno dazumal – Restored wagons, carts and sleighs from the collection show how harvest, wine and people were transported in the Weinviertel around 1900 – from the blue wine wagon to the splendid hearse of 1915.

Founded

1979

Operated by

WMB Weinviertel Museum Betriebs GmbH

Director

Christoph Mayer, Bernadette Schager (Geschäftsführung)

Admission & discounts

Free admission once with the Niederösterreich-CARD (not for groups). Online tickets in the webshop.

Accessibility

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

Accessible entrance building with a lift to the grounds; the bus stop is directly at the visitor car park. Because of the historic buildings and gravel paths, a companion is strongly recommended for people with walking disabilities. A map with a wheelchair-accessible circular route is available free of charge at the ticket desk.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family tour "In the Footsteps of Zieglinde" every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 3 p.m. with riddles about the school, the clay building site and the farm. At the Living Farm, the goat and chicken areas may be entered. Two playgrounds; children's birthday parties for 5- to 12-year-olds with a dedicated party room. The paths are gravelled; skateboards and scooters are not allowed.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A5 Nordautobahn: from the direction of Vienna take the exit Hochleithen, from the direction of the Czech Republic the exit Schrick, then follow the brown cultural signposts. New address for the satnav: Am Schmalzberg 1, 2224 Niedersulz.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Village inn "Jägerhaus" on the village square with beer garden (admission ticket required, cash only); wine bar in the Kellergasse on selected weekends and public holidays 1–6 p.m. Dogs on a lead are welcome; animal enclosures can then be viewed only from outside.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Courtyards and other areas of the village for weddings, christenings, birthdays and other celebrations; the houses themselves cannot be hired.

Plan your visit