Erzgebirgisches Freilichtmuseum
Open-air museum in Seiffen with 15 building complexes on wood and toy making and the water-powered ring-turning mill of 1760.
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About the museum
The starting point of the open-air museum is a water-powered turning mill preserved in its original location, which Johann Heinrich Frohs built from 1758 to 1760. For over 120 years ring turning has been practised in it, the typical Seiffen technique of splitting animal figures from a turned wooden ring. The complex has been a listed monument since 1951; the last owner, the ring turner Paul Preißler, worked there into old age, and in 1971 the property passed into museum ownership.
From 1971, houses, barns, workshops and technical installations from the central Ore Mountains were relocated around the turning mill and assembled into a scattered settlement typical of the mountain ridge, with paths, walls, water ditches and gardens. In May 1973 the open-air museum opened as a department of the Erzgebirgisches Spielzeugmuseum Seiffen; the operator is the municipality of Seiffen.
At the centre are the wood-working trades and toy manufacture that shaped the Ore Mountains for two centuries: turning, ring turning and the pressing of composition figures. Across roughly three hectares, 15 building complexes can be visited, including two water-power installations, a miner's house and a raftsman's house, a toymaker's house and a water-powered sawmill. The historic workshops are in working order and are put into operation on craft days; ring turning is demonstrated daily in the turning mill.
Highlights
- Water-powered ring-turning mill of 1760 with daily demonstrations
- 15 building complexes in an Ore Mountains scattered settlement on 3 ha
- Two water-power installations, including a sawmill
- Historic toymaker's and composition figure workshop
- Wedding room in the historic double house
- Historic craft days twice a year
Permanent exhibitions
- Wasserkraft-Drehwerk von 1760 – Originally preserved ring-turning workshop with an overshot water wheel and transmission, where it is shown daily how animal figures are made from a wooden ring.
- Gebäude und Werkstätten – Houses, barns and workshops from the central Ore Mountains show the living and working of miners, raftsmen, turners and toymakers.
- Founded
- 1973
- Operated by
- Gemeinde Kurort Seiffen/Erzgeb.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10.70 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Pupils aged 17 and over, students up to 35 years, trainees and persons with severe disabilities (with proof) |
| Children & teens | €2Children accompanied by a paying parent or grandparent free; children up to 16 years without such accompaniment €2. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount stated. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €7 |
| Students & apprentices | €7Students up to the completed age of 35. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €8 per personAdults in groups of 10 or more persons €8, 20 or more persons €7.50; children and young people up to 16 years in a group €2. |
| Families | –Children accompanied by a paying parent or grandparent have free admission. |
| Combination ticket open-air museum + toy museum (adults) | €16Accompanying children of paying parents/grandparents free. |
| Specialist tour of the open-air museum | €85Per group (max. 30 persons), by advance booking only. |
Members of the Förderverein Erzgebirgisches Spielzeugmuseum Seiffen free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Children accompanied by paying parents or grandparents have free admission; picnic areas on the grounds.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Car park directly at the entrance, also suitable for coaches and vehicle combinations.
About 2.5 km from the toy museum in the town centre in the direction of Deutscheinsiedel, signposted.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Tables and benches for a picnic on the grounds.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 8 guests.
Civil weddings in the wedding room of the historic double house (up to 8 guests) or, weather permitting, in the open air; appointments via the registry office of Kurort Seiffen.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Daily demonstrations of ring turning in the water-powered turning mill. Specialist tours (max. 30 persons) and school education programmes for grades 1 to 7 with timely registration at 037362 17019. |
