Museum „Alte Mühle“ Abtei Himmerod (Email-Museum)

About the museum

The Alte Mühle is the oldest completely preserved building of Himmerod Abbey. The present complex dates from the 17th century, but its core probably goes back to walls from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. After a fire in 1592 it was rebuilt. When monks from Bosnia resettled Himmerod after the First World War, the mill was the only reasonably intact building and their first accommodation.

Around 1993 the idea arose of using the house as an international meeting place and art and museum center. The Verbandsgemeinde (association of municipalities) Manderscheid, the artists' group Creativ Kreis International and the abbey jointly set the conversion in motion; from 1996 the building was renovated, and in 1998 the museum opened. By its own account, the artists' group runs the only museum for enamel art in Germany.

Today the first floor shows an enamel collection, the top floor bronzes by the sculptor Johann Baptist Lenz, who came from Oberkail. On the second floor an exhibition tells the history of the Cistercians and especially the founding and development of Himmerod. The foyer and gallery offer space for changing exhibitions. In the house, the old timber roof structure, the water-powered mill and the historic bread oven can still be seen.

Highlights

• Enamel collection of the Creativ Kreis International
• Bronzes by the Eifel sculptor Johann Baptist Lenz
• Exhibition on the history of the Cistercians and Himmerod
• Oldest surviving building of the abbey, with mill mechanism and bread oven

Permanent exhibitions

• Emaille-Sammlung – On the first floor, the Creativ Kreis International shows enamel art by artists from many countries.
• Bronzen von Johann Baptist Lenz – On the top floor is a collection of bronze works by the Eifel sculptor Johann Baptist Lenz from Oberkail.
• Geschichte der Zisterzienser und der Abtei Himmerod – The exhibition on the second floor tells the story of the Cistercians and especially of the founding and development of Himmerod.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Abtei Himmerod / Creativ Kreis International (CKI)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

On request the abbey offers children's and school tours, during which children explore the monastery and learn a biblical story via the organ.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Alte Mühle on the grounds of Himmerod Abbey (Abteistraße 3, Großlittgen).

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Monastery restaurant (Wed–Sun 12:00–19:30, closed Mon and Tue), monastery shop with a book and art shop, and a monastery nursery on the grounds.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit