Freilichtmuseum Schwerin-Mueß

About the museum

Mueß is an old fishing and farming village on the southern shore of Lake Schwerin, first mentioned in documents in 1304 and part of the city of Schwerin since 1936. The historic village center remained almost unchanged in structure over the centuries and now forms the grounds of the open-air museum.

In 1970 the museum moved into the oldest farmhouse in the village, a Low German hall house from the 17th century that had still been inhabited until then. Gradually, more buildings of the old village center were added: a Büdnerei (smallholder's farm), a Häuslerei (cottager's house), the shepherd's cottage, the smithy, the village school of 1888, the fire brigade's pump house and several barns. Today the area covers almost seven hectares with 17 buildings and objects set up as museum exhibits.

The museum is an institution of the state capital Schwerin and looks after the city's folklore collections. Their foundation is the collection of the folklorist Richard Wossidlo (1859–1939), which came to the state museum in 1922 with a good 3,000 objects – costumes, ceramics, flax-processing tools and much more.

Besides the houses, gardens and animals shape the scene: an orchard meadow with old varieties, herb garden and village schoolteacher's garden, sheep, chickens and a bee trail. Exhibitions on farm animals and rye cultivation, a children's museum as well as markets, music and theater events round out the offering.

Highlights

• Low German hall house from the 17th century
• Village school from 1888 with school garden
• Children's museum with hands-on exhibitions
• Sheep, chickens and bee trail
• Orchard meadow with old Mecklenburg fruit varieties
• Location directly on Lake Schwerin

Permanent exhibitions

• De Mäkelborger un sien Veih – Der Mecklenburger und seine Nutztiere – Freestanding modules in the outdoor grounds explain how closely people and farm animals were connected in rural everyday life – with hands-on elements and Low German traditions.
• De Rogg – dat best Kuurn – Exhibition area at the clay baking oven on the importance of rye as a bread grain, complemented by a model of the three-field system.
• Kindermuseum – Two hands-on exhibitions in the old school barn on childhood in the village and on textiles in the farmhouse – to discover, guess and try out.

Founded

1970

Operated by

Landeshauptstadt Schwerin

Director

Melanie Kramer

Admission & discounts

Different prices apply during special events.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Mostly paved sand paths and about 100 m of cobblestones; the listed buildings have steps and thresholds. A wheelchair can be borrowed free of charge.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children's museum in the old school barn with two hands-on exhibitions on childhood in the village and on textiles. Playground, sheep and chickens, children's festivals and holiday programs; tours and projects for daycare groups and school classes.

Getting there & parking

Entrance on the street "Zum Alten Bauernhof". By car via the B321 toward Crivitz, shortly before the edge of town turn left onto Alte Crivitzer Landstraße. By bike via Franzosenweg and Zippendorf; lock bicycles outside the grounds.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Museum café with terrace (no reservations possible).

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit