Alte Schäferei – Gerätemuseum des Coburger Landes

About the museum

The Alte Schäferei lies just under a kilometre from Schloss Ahorn, whose estate it belonged to. The Baroque ensemble of buildings was built in 1713; until the 1930s estate shepherds tended the flocks here – Gottlieb Neubert, who held this post from 1894 to 1936, is now the narrator figure of the audio guide.

As the equipment museum of the Coburger Land, the site shows evidence of agriculture and crafts as well as painted furniture and folk-culture objects from the former Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. At its centre is the sheepfold, over 300 years old, with the main exhibition room; around it stand a bakehouse, barn, shepherd's house and farm garden. Across around 600 square metres, the museum deliberately forgoes a rigid permanent exhibition: the themes – such as historic farm implements, baking or the mills of the region – move from room to room and are repeatedly put together anew, often together with people from the area.

The operator is the Zweckverband Museen im Coburger Land. A large volunteer team with a support association, Landfrauen (rural women's group), spinning group and bake-oven team shapes daily operations; the house sees itself as a meeting place for the region. Markets and festivals take place throughout the year, and in the former shepherd's house the inn “Schäferstuben” serves food and drink. In 2024, together with students of Hochschule Coburg, the audio guide “Horch a mol” was created, with ten stations on the shepherd's daily life in the 1920s.

Highlights

• Baroque shepherd's farm ensemble from 1713 with a sheepfold over 300 years old
• Historic bakehouse with wood-fired oven
• Audio guide “Horch a mol” with ten listening stations on shepherd's daily life
• Agricultural implements from the Coburger Land
• Farm garden and orchard meadow

Operated by

Zweckverband Museen im Coburger Land

Director

Dr. Chris Loos

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for members of the support association and recipients of Bürgergeld (basic income support).

Accessibility

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

The outdoor grounds and the ground floors of all buildings are easily accessible by wheelchair, as is the main exhibition room in the sheepfold; upper floors only via stairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Hands-on museum with programmes such as bread baking, butter making, felting, basket weaving or laundry washing for day-care centres, school classes and children's birthday parties; markets and festivals for the whole family. Children and young people up to 18 years have free admission.

Getting there & parking

Take the B 303 to Ahorn; the Gerätemuseum is signposted at the edge of the village, from where it is about 600 m to the car park.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

Inn “Schäferstuben” with beer garden in the former shepherd's house (own opening hours, tel. 09561 28939).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil wedding ceremonies at the Alte Schäferei; supporting programmes for family and club celebrations as well as birthdays can be booked.

Plan your visit