Ofen- und Zeitreisemuseum Zillbach
Private museum in a half-timbered barn from 1891 in the Rhön region, with historic stoves and everyday objects – visits by appointment.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum in Zillbach, a district of Eichenzell, grew out of the passion of stove builder Michael Brähler and his wife Dorothea for historic hearths and stoves. Over decades the two collected stoves, household goods, craftsmen's tools and agricultural implements from the Rhön; the hobby historian restored many of the rusty finds himself. 1998 is given as the year the museum was founded.
The collection is housed on a former farm in a large half-timbered barn of 1891, which offers more than 200 square meters of space. On view are around 70 stoves, between 150 and 200 years old, showing styles from Neoclassicism through the Gründerzeit to Art Nouveau. In addition there is the history of ore mining and foundry art in the Fulda region, which looks back on a tradition of around 1,200 years.
The exhibition “Geschichte(n) rund ums Feuer” (Stories Around Fire) links the stoves with themes such as farming, crafts, the household, trade, school and the postal service, and shows how people lived and worked in earlier times. Among the rooms set up are a corner shop (Tante-Emma-Laden), a shoemaker's and a watchmaker's workshop, a classroom and a post office; there is also a large collection of matchboxes. Next to the barn stands the sales room “Ofen-Tenne” with modern stoves. The museum has been the subject of numerous media reports and the filming location of a film that has won several international awards.
Highlights
- About 70 historic stoves, 150 to 200 years old
- 1891 half-timbered barn with over 200 m² of exhibition space
- Everyday objects from households, crafts, farming, school and postal service
- Corner shop (Tante-Emma-Laden), shoemaker's and watchmaker's workshop, classroom and post office
- Large collection of matchboxes
- Hands-on journey through time with tours for groups, kindergartens and schools
- Admission with tour benefits social projects in South America and Africa in full
Permanent exhibition
- Geschichte(n) rund ums Feuer – Historic stoves from two centuries, embedded in everyday objects from the household, crafts, farming, school and postal service of the Rhön – with a corner shop (Tante-Emma-Laden), shoemaker's and watchmaker's workshop, classroom, post office and a large collection of matchboxes.
- Founded
- 1998
- Operated by
- Michael und Dorothea Brähler (privat)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Groups | –Maximum of 20 people per tour. |
€8 per person including a tour; the full amount benefits social projects in South America and Africa.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Special tours for kindergarten groups from age 5 and for school classes; the museum sees itself as a place of learning and experience for all age groups.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the north of Zillbach, at the corner of Landesstraße 3430 ("Am Zillbach") and the Heidkopfweg; next to the barn is the shop "Ofen-Tenne".
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours by appointment only, maximum 20 people per tour, lasting 60 to 90 minutes depending on interest. Special tours are offered for kindergartens (from age 5), schools and professional groups such as heating engineers, stove fitters and chimney sweeps. |
