Hammer- und Waffenschmiede-Museum Hexenagger
Water-powered hammer and weapons forge with a museum collection in Hexenagger in the Altmühl Valley, with forging demonstrations.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The forge on the Schambach originally belonged to the nearby Hexenagger Castle and dates back to the early modern period. Water power drove drop hammers, bellows, and a grinding mill; the forge worked iron ore from the mines near Schafshill. The heavy drop hammers bear the date 1633, and the year 1639 is carved above the main hearth. In earlier times a waterworks also supplied the castle, which sits high on the hill.
In the 19th and 20th centuries the forge was leased out and passed through family hands: in 1894 Karl Kleiß of Gunzenhausen leased the business, his son bought it in 1954, and in 1962 master blacksmith Norbert Huber took over the estate, which had at times fallen into disrepair, and restored it. Shut down after World War II, the works were gradually set up as a small museum from the 1960s onward.
Today the machines and tools are working again, so the water wheels can drive the hammers. Besides smithing technology, the collection shows horseshoes and harness gear from several centuries, agricultural equipment, and household items from earlier times.
Highlights
- Water-powered drop hammers dating from 1633
- Forging demonstrations with water wheel and drop hammer
- Horseshoes and ox shoes from several centuries, including medieval Hunneneisen
- Armor anvil from the era of the arms forge
- Agricultural equipment and rare household items such as a multiple mousetrap and butter churns
Permanent exhibition
- Hammer- und Waffenschmiede mit Sammlung – Historic water-powered forge with drop hammers, hearths, and tools, plus a collection of horseshoes, harness gear, farm equipment, and household items.
- Operated by
- Hammerschmiede Huber
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €2 |
| Groups (20+ people) | €3 per personGroups of 20 or more: €3 per person, reduced €1.50. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group tours are available year-round by arrangement; blacksmithing demonstrations take place regularly. |
