Thuryhammer
Restored hammer mill in the Thurytal valley in Freistadt, an open-air museum with forging demonstrations by registration.
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About the museum
The Thury family came to Freistadt around 1729 and operated three hammer mills in the valley later named after them, the Thurytal. Two family members were mayors of the town. At its peak, about 20 smiths worked there, using hammers driven by water wheels and producing mainly sickles, scythes and farm tools. The goods were sold in barrels far beyond the region.
With industrialisation, things went downhill from around 1870; cheap mass production made the hammer mills obsolete, and the sites decayed into overgrown ruins. An association dedicated to revitalising the Thurytal restored the so-called 2nd hammer. In 1997, the water wheel there, more than a hundred years old, was ceremonially put back into operation as part of the first stage of the Thurytal hiking trail.
Today the 2nd Thuryhammer is a demonstration workshop run by the association PRO Freistadt and is regarded as an open-air museum. During a booked forging demonstration, historic hammer forging is shown, and participants strike their own “Thurytaler”, a coin. The building lies in the midst of nature along the Feldaist and is part of a cultural and hiking trail with stops at mills and hammer mills.
Highlights
- Restored hammer mill (2nd Thuryhammer) with water wheel
- Forging demonstration with your own Thurytaler to strike
- Location in the Thurytal nature area along the Feldaist
- Part of the Thurytal hiking trail “Gewerbe am Fluss” (“Trades by the River”)
Permanent exhibition
- 2. Thuryhammer – Restored hammer mill with water wheel, where historic hammer forging is demonstrated.
- Operated by
- Verein PRO Freistadt
Admission & discounts
| Groups (3+ people) | –The forging demonstration is charged per group: up to 4 people €60, up to 8 people €105. |
|---|---|
| Fiery forging demonstration – small group (up to 4 people) | €60Duration 60 to 75 minutes, bookable from 3 people. |
| Fiery forging demonstration – large group (up to 8 people) | €105 |
| Fiery forging demonstration – school class | €40 |
| Thurytaler coin, blank to strike yourself (per coin) | €4 |
From 9 people, two smiths are required.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Hands-on stations
Participants get hands-on during the forging demonstration; school classes can book.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Graben
Bus towards Grünbach or Sandl to the stop Graben.
By car
Free parking
Free car park at the southern entrance to the Thurytal (near the S10 bridge).
The hammer mill is located in the Thurytal on the Feldaist, reachable on foot from the car park.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visit with forging demonstration only by registration with Stadtmarketing Freistadt (+43 664 832 5756, office@freistadt.city). Duration 60 to 75 minutes; participants forge a Thurytaler themselves. |
