Schüttesäge-Museum

About the museum

The Schüttesäge-Museum stands on a site where a sawmill is documented as early as the late 15th century. The mill originally belonged to the church; it later took its current name from one of its owners, an innkeeper from neighboring Wolfach. Timber was cut here until 1931, after which the operation fell out of use.

In 1989 the town of Schiltach set up a museum in the building focusing on the timber industry of the Kinzig valley. Together with the Museum am Markt, it is one of the municipal museums. Its eye-catcher is the undershot waterwheel, a good seven meters (23 ft) in diameter, which still generates electricity and drives transmission gearing today; the entire facility is a listed historic monument.

The exhibition is divided into three sections. The section on timber rafting uses large raft models, photographs, tools and clothing to explain how logs were floated from the Black Forest down the Kinzig to the Rhine. A second section is devoted to tanning, which in Schiltach was closely tied to the forest because bark was used as a tanning agent; a tanning pit can be seen outdoors. The third section covers forestry, woodworking and half-timbered construction.

The museum is part of the Flößerpfad Kinzigtal (Kinzig Valley Rafters' Trail). In the summer months, the free public town walking tour also starts at the Schüttesäge.

Highlights

• Undershot waterwheel 7.20 m (23.6 ft) in diameter that still generates electricity
• Large raft models and tools of the Kinzig raftsmen
• Tanning section with an outdoor tanning pit
• Forestry and half-timbered construction in the Black Forest
• Free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Flößerei – Models, photos, tools and clothing show how the Kinzig raftsmen built their rafts and carried the timber all the way to the Rhine.
• Gerberei – Tools, leather samples and an outdoor tanning pit explain the tanning trade and its dependence on bark peeling in the forest.
• Wald und Holzwirtschaft – From forest management and work in the sawmill to the half-timbered house: the journey of wood in the Black Forest.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Stadt Schiltach

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission (according to Flößerpfad Kinzigtal and other sources; the town's museum page does not list prices). Group tours via the Tourist-Info: €50 per group (max. 25 people), in other languages €60.

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

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

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

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