Österreichisches Freilichtmuseum

About the museum

The impetus came in 1961 with a basic decision by the Province of Styria to create a central open-air museum for the whole of Austria. In 1962 an association was founded for this purpose and presented the project; after construction in the valley of the Enzenbach near Stübing, north of Graz, the museum opened in 1970. In 1985 an exhibition building and a research centre for building research were added.

From 1986 a non-profit federal foundation supported the museum; later sole responsibility passed to the Province of Styria. After the foundation was dissolved in 2018, the open-air museum became part of the Universalmuseum Joanneum in 2019, where it now belongs to the Folklore department.

On about 65 hectares and roughly 1.4 kilometres of valley, over 100 buildings from all federal states and South Tyrol are arranged by region: farmhouses, barns, mills, workshops and sacred buildings from six centuries, mostly originals. They were documented at their original sites, dismantled and rebuilt and furnished in the museum. In addition there are around 130,000 work and everyday objects, farm gardens, fields and animals.

Two permanent exhibitions explore themes such as building, living, working and agricultural tools. The museum holds the Museum Seal of Quality and has been certified since 2025 as a "Green Museum" with the Ecolabel.

Highlights

• Over 100 historic buildings from all Austrian federal states and South Tyrol
• Four-sided farmstead from St. Ulrich near Steyr and Bundwerk barn from Tarsdorf in the Innviertel
• Historic grocery shop in the Niggas farmhouse
• Farm smithy from Feistritz near Birkfeld, still in use
• Museum inn "Zum Göller" with dishes from the federal states
• Herb and farm gardens with fields and animals

Permanent exhibitions

• Die erinnerte Zeit – Exhibition in the building behind the entrance about the farming year, about building, living and working in harmony with nature.
• Bäuerliche Arbeitsgeräte und Fahrzeuge – In the Tyrolean Bundwerk barn from Flaurling, agricultural tools and vehicles from the Neolithic period to the present day are on display.
• Museumsgelände – Around 100 furnished historic buildings, grouped by federal state, with gardens, fences and cultural landscape in the valley of the Enzenbach.

Founded

1962

Operated by

Universalmuseum Joanneum GmbH

Director

Michaela Steinböck-Köhler

Admission & discounts

The ticket is valid for one calendar day for one admission; tours and workshops cost extra. Free admission with the cultural pass "Hunger auf Kunst & Kultur", GenussCard, Graz Card and ICOM card, with the Steiermark-Card once per season (not on event days); up to €2 discount for Ö1 Club and ÖAMTC members; Drei KulturSonntag: on Sundays two tickets for the price of one. The Erlebnistag is excluded from discounts.

Accessibility

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

Ramp into the visitor centre with ticket desk, café, shop and accessible restroom; you can drive right up to the entrance to get in and out, two marked disabled parking spaces in front of the railway underpass. The extensive grounds with gravel paths, slopes and door thresholds of varying heights are accessible for wheelchair users and visually impaired people only with assistance; the historic houses are not accessible. The Flaurling exhibition building and the inn with restroom (0.5 km from the entrance) are accessible. Loan transport wheelchair and rollator free of charge against photo ID (register in advance). Tours with tactile elements and in easy language after registration; accompanying booklet for the annual exhibition in plain language. No CEDOS evaluation yet.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Monthly programmes for children and families (4–14 years), workshops such as "In Grandpa's Workshop", children's adventure day with old games as well as school programmes and museum rally. On the grounds there are dedicated adventure areas for children as well as animals, gardens and fields; children's menu at the inn.

Getting there & parking

Satnav coordinates 47.15891, 15.31534. The museum is located directly on the Mur cycle path. Driving onto the museum grounds with a private car is not permitted.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Museum inn "Zum Göller" on the grounds with dishes from all federal states (season Tue–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m., hot food 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; group menus on request); museum café "Kuchenstube" in the entrance area (Sat, Sun, public holidays 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Tue–Fri self-service; also without museum admission). Museum shop with regional products (9 a.m.–4 p.m.) and historic grocery shop on the grounds.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit