GailtalMuseum – Sammlung Georg Essl (Schloss Möderndorf)
Regional museum in Schloss Möderndorf near Hermagor with the Georg Essl collection on the nature, history and folk culture of the Gail Valley, plus an Ingeborg Bachmann room.
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About the museum
The cube-shaped Schloss Möderndorf stands in the centre of the village of the same name on the right bank of the Gail, about two kilometres south of Hermagor. It reflects the history of the middle Gail Valley and in 1662 passed into the possession of the Princes of Porcia, who set up their district court here.
The Hermagor merchant Georg Essl I began a collection on the ethnology and cultural history of the region as early as around 1900, first displayed in his business premises in Hermagor. His son Georg Essl II acquired the dilapidated castle in 1982 and made it available to the Förderungsverein Gailtaler Heimatmuseum (Gail Valley Local History Museum Support Association), which renovated it with many volunteers. In 2000 the family donated the castle to the municipality; the support association continues to run the museum.
Today the GailtalMuseum shows, over several floors, objects from palaeontology, archaeology, religious folk culture and everyday life, including a Luther Bible of 1541 and a grocer's shop of 1904. An event hall has been created in the attic, where concerts, readings and exhibition openings take place regularly. In 2026 a dedicated room on Ingeborg Bachmann was added, whose paternal family came from the Gail Valley.
Highlights
- Georg Essl collection on the culture and nature of the Gail Valley
- Luther Bible of 1541
- Grocer's shop from 1904
- Fossil sigillaria tree, about 300 million years old
- Ingeborg Bachmann room with loans from the State of Carinthia
Permanent exhibitions
- Sammlung Georg Essl – Regional collection on palaeontology, archaeology, religious folk culture and everyday life in the Gail Valley.
- Ingeborg-Bachmann-Raum – Permanent exhibition with objects and documents on Ingeborg Bachmann and her Gail Valley origins, in cooperation with the kärnten.museum.
- Operated by
- Förderungsverein Gailtaler Heimatmuseum (Eigentümerin des Schlosses: Stadtgemeinde Hermagor-Pressegger See)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children aged 6 and over, young people, students, those doing military service |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Children aged 6 and over. |
| Students & apprentices | €4 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €5.50 per personGroups of 15 or more, one accompanying person free, registration requested; school groups €3.50 per person. |
| Guided tour (flat rate) | €30 |
| School in the Museum (SCHU-MU) | €4 |
| Culture Pass adults/pensioners | €4 |
| Culture Pass young people/apprentices/students | €3 |
| Guest Card Basic | €5.50Children €3. |
Free admission for children up to 6 years of age and with the Kärnten Card and Kärnten Card Premium.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Museum café in the castle courtyard with coffee, ice cream and cold drinks; small museum shop with regional crafts, postcards and books.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | School programme “Schule im Museum” (SCHU-MU) and guided tours on request. |
