Forst- und Köhlerhof Wiethagen

About the museum

In 1837 the forestry department of the city of Rostock allowed tar maker Johann Schütt to set up a tar works on the southern edge of the Rostocker Heide forest near Rövershagen. In double-walled brick kilns, pine wood was carbonized without air, producing charcoal, wood tar, and turpentine, which were needed in shipbuilding, fishing, and agriculture, among other things. With interruptions, production continued until 1979.

After the death of the last charcoal burner in 1982, reconstruction of the dilapidated kilns and buildings began in 1984 under chief forester Gerd Heil; the charcoal burner's house and both tar kilns were declared technical monuments that same year. In 1991 a friends' association was founded, which in 1993 took over operation of the site from the Hanseatic City of Rostock and developed it into a place for learning and outings focused on forestry history, environmental education, and traditional crafts.

In the former cattle barn, a forestry and tar-making museum provides information on charcoal burning, forest management, and the history of the Rostocker Heide, including its military use. The small kiln is still fired several times a year; each burn takes about a week. Further additions followed: a model park with European wood carbonization facilities in 1999, a sculpture trail with wooden figures from regional legends in 2003, and a fairy-tale forest from 2006. In 2014 the tar-making craft was added to Germany's national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Highlights

• Historic tar kiln, still in working order – fired several times a year
• Forestry and tar-making museum in the former cattle barn
• Model park with 13 types of wood carbonization facilities from across Europe
• Sculpture trail with wooden figures from Rostock's legends
• Fairy-tale forest with eleven fairy-tale stations
• Charcoal burner's shop with charcoal and wood tar made on site

Permanent exhibitions

• Forst- und Teerschwelmuseum – Exhibition on charcoal burning, tar making, forestry, and the history of the Rostocker Heide, including its former military areas; a new section is devoted to the studio of wood sculptor Harald Wroost.
• Modellpark – Models and originals of 13 wood carbonization methods from across Europe, from earth kilns to tar pits, some of them hands-on.
• Skulpturenpfad – Circular trail with roofed wooden sculptures and reliefs on fairy tales and legends from the Rostock area, created since 2002.

Operated by

Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Forst- und Köhlerhofes Rostock-Wiethagen e. V.

Admission & discounts

Activities for groups of 15 or more, e.g., branded wooden plaques €1, making drawing charcoal €2.50, and a sculpture trail walk €3 per person, “Kleine Forscher am Teich” (Little Pond Explorers) €80 per class. Separate admission rules apply at farm festivals (e.g., a pumpkin as admission for children at the Pumpkin Festival).

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Nature-oriented children's playground, fairy-tale forest, and sculpture trail; for groups and school classes, hands-on activities such as making drawing charcoal, burning plaques, campfire bread on a stick, or pond exploring.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Charcoal burner's shop with charcoal, wood tar, drawing charcoal, and souvenirs. Green classroom. Catering at events and farm festivals by the catering team of Hotel Sportforum Rostock; school classes can rent a grill.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 350 guests.

Hunting lodge (up to 60 people, wood-burning stove), barbecue pavilion (up to 24 adults or 36 children), potato cellar (up to 20 people), and outdoor grounds with a campfire site (up to 350 people); supporting activities such as crossbow shooting or a wood-chopping relay, as well as buffets, can be booked.

Plan your visit