Heidemuseum Rischmannshof

About the museum

In 1911/12, an 18th-century smoke house (Rauchhaus), a granary with external stairs (Treppenspeicher) from 1669 and a cottager's house were re-erected on the edge of Walsrode's Eckernworth town forest. This makes the Heidemuseum, opened in 1912, one of the earliest open-air museums in Germany. The thatched main house from 1798, a two-post hall house, originally stood in Hartem near Fallingbostel.

On the first floor, the main house shows the typical layout of a heath farmhouse, with a living room (Dönz), a hearth area (Flett) with an open fireplace and a threshing hall (Diele) with stalls, furnished with furniture and implements from the 18th and 19th centuries; the space is also used for lectures. Under the roof are three sections: one on the woodcarver Hans Brüggemann, born in Walsrode and creator of the Bordesholm Altar; one on the town's history, including the convent and the town fire of 1757; and a room with furniture, first editions and manuscripts of Hermann Löns.

Later additions included a bakehouse from Südkampen (1752), a half-timbered barn from Altenboitzen (1842) with a smithy and workshops, a farm garden, a well and a bee shelter; Walsrode beekeepers set up a beekeeping museum in the granary. Branch sites are a sheep barn in the Krelinger Heide and a school museum in the village school of Klein Eilstorf. The museum is run by the association Heidemuseum Rischmannshof Walsrode, which is based here, as is the Verband der Hermann-Löns-Kreise. In 2024, a thatched carriage shed opposite the museum burned down.

Highlights

• Two-post hall house from 1798 with Flett and Dönz
• Granary from 1669 with a beekeeping museum
• Bakehouse from Südkampen (1752) with baking days during the season
• Hermann Löns room with original furniture and first editions
• Exhibition on Hans Brüggemann, creator of the Bordesholm Altar

Permanent exhibitions

• Heidebauernhof Rischmannshof – Main house from 1798 with farmhouse furnishings, plus a granary, bakehouse and barn with smithy and workshops on the farmstead grounds.
• Brüggemann-Ausstellung, Stadtgeschichte und Löns-Zimmer – In the attic of the main house: the woodcarver Hans Brüggemann, Walsrode town history, and furniture and first editions of Hermann Löns.
• Bienenmuseum – In the granary from 1669, Walsrode beekeepers present the tools and history of heathland beekeeping.

Founded

1912

Operated by

Heidemuseum Rischmannshof Walsrode e. V.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: International Museum Day and Heritage Open Day (Tag des offenen Denkmals)

According to the website, its price list has been valid since 2006.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

On baking days, cakes and savory baked goods from the historic bakehouse.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Weddings / ceremonies

The main building can be rented for private celebrations (€150, plus a heating surcharge from €50 if needed); civil weddings €60 plus registry office fee; branch sites Klein Eilstorf village school and Krelinger Heide sheep barn €50 each.

Plan your visit