Alte Samenklenge

About the museum

In 1913 the Elmstein-Süd forestry office set up a seed kiln in the former stables of an electoral inn on Elmsteiner Hauptstraße. For almost a century, cones were dried here and tree seeds obtained for reforestation in the Palatinate Forest. In 1952 a half-timbered storage shed was added. In the early 2000s the kiln operation moved out, and the municipality of Elmstein acquired the building in 2006.

On 14 June 2008 the Alte Samenklenge opened as the House of Forest and Forestry History. The kiln's fittings were largely preserved, and at the same time the house took over the forest workers' exhibition that had previously been shown on the upper floor of the nearby Wappenschmiede.

The exhibition leads step by step through seed extraction from cone to finished seed and shows the apparatus in the original rooms. Further sections tell of the hard everyday life of forest workers and their families, of charcoal burning and resin extraction, and of log driving on the Speyerbach. For children there are hands-on stations and a small children's museum. The house, run by the municipality, is open mainly on the Sundays when the historic Kuckucksbähnel runs through the Elmstein valley.

Highlights

• Original apparatus of the seed kiln from 1913
• Step-by-step presentation of tree seed extraction
• Sections on charcoal burning, resin extraction and log driving
• Children's museum with feely boxes and climbing tree
• Can be combined with a ride on the Kuckucksbähnel

Permanent exhibitions

• Von der Zapfenernte zum Saatgut – The preserved machines and rooms of the seed kiln show how tree seeds were obtained here for the forests of the Palatinate.
• Leben und Arbeiten im Wald – Forest work, charcoal burning, resin extraction and log driving on the Speyerbach from the perspective of the people who lived from them.

Founded

2008

Operated by

Gemeinde Elmstein

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is one step on the ground floor; the upper floor can only be reached by stairs. Dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Parts of the exhibition invite children to try out their own dexterity; the children's museum has feely boxes, colouring books, reading material and a climbing tree.

Getting there & parking

On operating days the journey can be combined with the historic Kuckucksbähnel from Neustadt an der Weinstraße to Elmstein.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit