Rheinland-Pfälzisches Freilichtmuseum Bad Sobernheim

About the museum

The idea of a statewide open-air museum for Rhineland-Palatinate took shape in the early 1970s: in 1972 the Nachtigallental near Bad Sobernheim on the Nahe was chosen as the site, and in 1973 a friends' circle was founded to support the project. In July 1974 a special-purpose association was formed as the operator; a year later the first building was dismantled at its original location to be re-erected in the museum.

Since then houses, barns, workshops and outbuildings from all parts of the state have been taken apart piece by piece, brought to the valley, and rebuilt and furnished true to the original. More than 40 buildings now stand there, divided into four building groups: Hunsrück-Nahe, Mittelrhein-Westerwald, Mosel-Eifel and Pfalz-Rheinhessen. They show how people in the countryside lived and worked over past centuries. In the Haus Enkirch, the WeinKulturGut has been created, with a wine bar along with a museum vineyard and wine-press houses.

Since 2003 a foundation under public law has run the museum. In 2011 a fire destroyed stored building parts that were still waiting to be rebuilt. In 2018 the first escape room in a German open-air museum, "ZeitWende", was added.

Part of the concept is to make history tangible: Glan cattle, Coburg Fox sheep, goats, chickens and geese live in pastures and stables, hands-on stations along the roughly two-kilometer circular path invite visitors to try things out, and on event days special programs for young and old are added.

Highlights

• Over 40 buildings rebuilt true to the original in four building groups
• Glan cattle, Coburg Fox sheep, goats and poultry
• WeinKulturGut with museum vineyard and wine bar in Haus Enkirch
• Escape room "ZeitWende"
• Hands-on stations with the museum mice Frida and Anton
• Winterburg dance hall and Hasselbach council and baking house

Permanent exhibitions

• Vier Baugruppen ländlicher Architektur – Residential houses, barns, workshops and communal buildings from Hunsrück-Nahe, Mittelrhein-Westerwald, Mosel-Eifel and Pfalz-Rheinhessen, furnished according to the lives of their former residents.
• Glanrind-Ausstellung im Haus Rapperath – A small exhibition in the stable of Haus Rapperath presents the Glan cattle, the regional cattle breed that also lives in the museum's pastures.
• WeinKulturGut – Wine bar in Haus Enkirch, complemented by the museum vineyard and the neighboring wine-press houses.

Founded

1974

Operated by

Stiftung Rheinland-Pfälzisches Freilichtmuseum Bad Sobernheim

Director

Sabrina Hirsch

Admission & discounts

Free admission for members of the friends' circle and the museum association. Annual passes and tickets are also available as gifts.

Accessibility

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

Gravel paths passable by wheelchair lead from the parking lot to the entrance building; however, the grounds have steep slopes (especially in the Hunsrück-Nahe building group), and some historic houses are not wheelchair-accessible. Wheelchair users should bring a strong companion, who has free admission. Wheelchair-accessible restroom in Haus Dierbach (Pfalz-Rheinhessen building group). Tactile reliefs of individual buildings; information in Easy Language on the website. For people with mobility impairments there are accessible minibus tours (about 120 minutes, max. 6 people).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Free exploration sheets and puzzles, plus an accompanying booklet to the hands-on stations with the museum mice Frida and Anton, at the ticket desk; digital scavenger hunt via Actionbound for families with children aged 10 and over (included in admission). Playground with equipment in the style of the museum houses, picnic areas, historic bowling and children's games; hand carts can be borrowed at the ticket desk. Baby changing facilities in every building group. Bookable vacation programs and hands-on programs also suitable for children's birthday parties. With strollers, some sections of the circular path are hard to manage.

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Felkestraße, Bad Sobernheim. Access via the A 61 or via the A 6, B 270 and B 420. Bicycle racks and an e-bike charging station at the entrance building.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Museum restaurant with regional cuisine (self-service, about 70 seats, inner courtyard in summer), Tue–Sun 11:30–17:00, Mondays on public holidays and during school holidays; cash only. Museum shop. Wine bar in the WeinKulturGut.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 90 guests.

Available for rent are, among others, the Winterburg dance hall (up to 90 people), the Hasselbach council and baking house (up to 25 guests), the seminar room in the WeinKulturGut (about 20 people) and the historic bowling alley. Civil weddings from April to October through the registry office of the Verbandsgemeinde Nahe-Glan, non-denominational ceremonies directly through the museum (wedding room from €200).

Plan your visit