Maison rurale de l'Outre-Forêt

About the museum

The Maison Rurale de l'Outre-Forêt grew out of an initiative by the Cercle d'Histoire de l'Outre-Forêt, which in the 1980s was looking for a typical farm complex in the region to house a museum. Kutzenhausen was chosen, where a farm was for sale. The SIVOM of Pechelbronn bought the farm complex in 1988, and the association Amis de la Maison Rurale de l'Outre-Forêt (AMROF) was created to run the site and build up the collections.

After ten years of work and reflection, the Maison Rurale opened its doors on July 12, 1998. It is now managed by the Sauer-Pechelbronn community of municipalities, while AMROF organises the events and owns the collections.

The site showcases the homes, way of life, traditions and crafts of rural Alsace between 1920 and 1950. The visit passes through two dwelling houses, the cellar, the kitchen and the smokehouse, then the outbuildings: kitchen garden, poultry yard, barn, cowshed, laundry, distillery and bread oven. A 1930s classroom, a space for temporary exhibitions and a café-shop round off the route.

Highlights

• Typical farm complex of the Outre-Forêt
• Stambach cellar and dwelling house with Grossstùbb, kitchen and smokehouse
• Reconstructed 1930s classroom
• Kitchen garden, poultry yard, distillery and bread oven
• Visit app “Outre-Forêt hier et aujourd'hui”

Permanent exhibitions

• Maison d'habitation et cave Stambach – Living spaces of an Alsatian farm: cellar, Grossstùbb, kitchen, bedrooms and smokehouse, with a section on the farm families and Alsatian costume.
• Salle de classe et espace laiterie – 1930s classroom and dairy area evoking village life.
• Les extérieurs – Kitchen garden, poultry yard, barn and cowshed, laundry, distillery and bread oven.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Communauté de communes Sauer-Pechelbronn (gestion) ; association des Amis de la Maison Rurale (animations et collections)

Visitors per year

approx. 15,000

Admission & discounts

Free admission for AMROF members, subscribers, holders of the Museums-Pass-Musées or the Carte STA, and Tôt ou T'Art members with a voucher. Discount on the adult admission upon presentation of an adult ticket to the Fleckenstein castle. Museums-Pass-Musées and Pass'Alsace sold on site; tickets possible with the Pass Culture.

Accessibility

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

The cellar, the first floor of the house, the footbridge, the dairy, the classroom and the temporary exhibition room are not directly accessible to people with reduced mobility; the visit app provides virtual access with 360° photos and audio commentary. The reception, café-shop and screening room are at ground level. Reserved parking space 10 m from the gate, an intercom to request help getting around, levelled paths between the buildings. Booklet in Braille and large print, Braille signage, a relief map and a model; induction loops in the conference room and café; presentation video in French Sign Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Free visit at children's pace; the app offers content and routes for children. Seasonal activities: games, small workshops (marquetry, modelling, painting) and demonstrations of old-time skills such as butter churning or the blacksmith's workshop. Picnic area outdoors or in the café.

Getting there & parking

GPS coordinates: 48.93380 / 7.85646.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café (hot and cold drinks on weekdays, pastries on Sundays) and shop open during opening hours; meals only occasionally, depending on the programme; covered picnic area in summer.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit