Bauernhaus-Museum Wolfegg

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The impetus came in 1976 from a support association for the preservation of rural cultural heritage, which aimed to preserve the region's typical building landscape with important structures. After two buildings of the former court fishery had been restored – including the Fischerhaus, which still stands on its original site – the open-air museum opened in Wolfegg in 1978.

Between 1981 and 1995 the association reconstructed further farmsteads with outbuildings and built up an extensive collection on rural everyday culture. In 1991 the district of Ravensburg acquired an extension site, where additional relocated houses were set within a recreated cultural landscape of around 1850. In 2003 the district took over as operator; since 2017 the museum has been part of the district's Kulturhäuser (cultural institutions).

Today the grounds hold 28 residential and farm buildings, the oldest being a 15th-century tithe barn. Permanent exhibitions tell of rural life around 1900, of how everyday life has changed up to the present, and of guest workers in the countryside. Chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, geese and Allgäu Brown cattle bring the farmyards to life. Since 2021 the museum has been working specifically on accessibility and inclusion and has received several awards for this.

Highlights

• 28 historic residential and farm buildings from Upper Swabia and the Allgäu
• Fischerhaus on the original site of the former court fishery
• Hof Beck farmstead showing rural life around 1900
• Exhibition “kommen – schaffen – bleiben” (come – work – stay) on guest workers in the countryside
• Farm animals such as Allgäu Brown cattle, goats and geese
• Farm adventure playground

Permanent exhibitions

• Bäuerliches Leben um 1900 – In the Hof Beck farmstead, the daily life of a farming family around the turn of the 20th century comes alive.
• Alltagswelten – gestern und heute – A comparison of rural everyday life past and present; the exhibition received Universal Design Awards.
• kommen – schaffen – bleiben – Experiences of guest workers in rural Upper Swabia.

Founded

1978

Operated by

Landkreis Ravensburg (Kulturhäuser Landkreis Ravensburg)

Director

Dr. Tanja Kreutzer

Admission & discounts

Free admission for members of the Deutscher Museumsbund (German Museums Association) with a museum pass and with the “AusZeit” visitor's card. Discounts with numerous visitor and customer cards (e.g. Bodensee Card PLUS, Allgäu-Walser-Card, Schwäbische Zeitung subscriber card). €1 discount when arriving with a same-day bwtarif ticket, Deutschlandticket or D-Ticket JugendBW. On family Saturdays, families pay half price.

Accessibility

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

Certified under “Reisen für Alle” (Travel for All). Low-barrier main entrance with accessible parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible restroom; the Hof Beck farmstead is designed to be low-barrier, and other areas are accessible to wheelchair users. Tactile orientation map, museum app with content in German Sign Language, tours in sign language, inclusive public tours and information in Easy Read German (Leichte Sprache).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Low-barrier farm adventure playground with an old tractor and hay wagon, children's guide with an activity booklet, free museum rally on weekends and an interactive discovery trail. Holiday programs, family Saturdays at half the family price, and children's birthday parties from kindergarten age (1.5 to 3.5 hours, €75–110). Awarded the “Familienferien Baden-Württemberg” (family holidays) seal.

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Vogter Straße 4, 88364 Wolfegg. Connected to the cycle path network, with e-bike charging stations at both entrances and a bike service station at the main entrance. €1 off admission when arriving with a same-day bwtarif ticket or Deutschlandticket.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Museumsgaststätte Fischerhaus (museum restaurant). Museum shop in the tithe barn, “s’Lädele” shop at the Fischerhaus and the kiosk “Der Milchpilz” at the playground. E-bike charging stations with lockers at both entrances.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 230 guests.

On selected dates, the historic tithe barn, once owned by Weißenau Abbey, with its large hall is available for rent, e.g. for weddings, seminars and celebrations; catering through partners recommended by the museum.

Plan your visit