Museumsdorf Trattenbach

About the museum

Pocket knives, known as Feitel, have been made in Trattenbach for over 500 years. It is said to have begun with Bartholomäus Löschenkohl from Alsace; in the 16th century there were 17 workshops in the valley. Production peaked in the mid-18th century at about three million knives a year. After that the number of businesses declined until around the year 2000 only one family was still producing; today there are two manufacturers.

The museum village was created in 1998 in the course of the Upper Austrian State Exhibition "Land der Hämmer – Heimat Eisenwurzen". It is run by the cultural association Heimatpflege Ternberg-Trattenbach. In 2002 it received the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality, and in 2015 the Trattenbach pocket Feitel production was recognised by the UNESCO Commission as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On the circular trail of about 1.5 kilometres, workshops, hammer mill, grinding shop and turnery can be visited in sequence, following the production process from steel to the finished knife. The stations include the InfoCenter with shop, the Manufaktur Löschenkohl, the Museum in der Wegscheid in the former workshop building, and the grinding shop and turnery "am König", where visitors can make their own Feitel. At the end of the trail a water playground invites visitors to experiment.

Highlights

• Themed trail through historic Feitel-maker workshops
• Manufaktur Löschenkohl, last maker of original Trattenbach pocket Feitel
• Museum in der Wegscheid in the former workshop building
• Make your own Feitel in the turnery
• Water playground with water wheels and pumps
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2015

Permanent exhibition

• Themenweg „Im Tal der Feitelmacher“ – Tour of about 1.5 kilometres through historic workshops, grinding shop, turnery and the Museum in der Wegscheid.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Kulturverein Heimatpflege Ternberg-Trattenbach

Admission & discounts

Guided tours for individuals and small groups on request with an individual quote.

Accessibility

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

According to the tourism portal, parts of the trail are suitable for wheelchairs; please ask the Museumsdorf for details in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Water playground at the end of the themed trail (May to October, free to use, Feitelstraße 6) and a Feitel workshop where you make your own.

Getting there & parking

Access via the A1 (exit Enns-Steyr, then on the B115 into the Enns valley).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Feitel shop in the InfoCenter; no catering of its own, restaurants in Ternberg are listed on the website.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit