Schwäbisches Freilichtmuseum Illerbeuren

About the museum

The museum goes back to the local heritage association "Heimatdienst Illertal", which the restorer and sculptor Hermann Zeller founded in 1948. The association acquired a property in the village of Illerbeuren and opened a small farm museum there in 1955, today's St.-Ulrich-Sölde. In 1967, a parish barn from Arlesried became the first building to be moved from elsewhere – the beginning of the open-air museum, which is regarded as the oldest in southern Germany. In the 1970s, a "village within the village" emerged with nine further buildings.

Because expansion and operation exceeded the association's capacities, a special-purpose association took over the sponsorship in 1983, today comprising the Bezirk Schwaben, the district of Unterallgäu, the Heimatdienst and the municipality of Kronburg. Under Otto Kettemann, from 1987 the museum was developed into an open-air museum for all of Swabia, with its own workshops, farming and educational programmes.

Since the 1990s, the grounds have been divided into regional building groups: from 1996, the group "Technology in the Countryside" with workshops and an agricultural machinery wholesaler, which has shown the history of Swabian agriculture since 2006, was added on an extension site, and from 2000 the Central Swabia building group with thatched-roof and post-and-plank buildings. In 1997 the museum also took over the collection of the Swabian Shooting Museum with over 8,000 objects. Further building groups for Northern Swabia, the Alpine foreland and the Alpine region are in preparation. An annual programme with craft days, markets and courses enlivens the grounds.

Highlights

• St.-Ulrich-Sölde, the nucleus of the museum in the old village centre
• Central Swabia building group with thatched roofs and post-and-plank construction
• Farm machinery exhibition in the agricultural machinery wholesaler from Buchloe
• Sawmill from Hettisried with audio guide
• Leaning peat inn from the Jettinger Moor
• Old livestock breeds such as the Augsburger chicken

Permanent exhibitions

• Altes Museumsdorf – The "village within the village" with the St.-Ulrich-Sölde and the first farmhouses, barns and the bakehouse moved to Illerbeuren.
• Baugruppe Mittelschwaben – Farms and Sölden with thatched roofs and post-and-plank construction show rural living and farming in Central Swabia.
• Technik auf dem Land – Water pump house, wind wheel, farm machinery workshop and a large exhibition on the history of agriculture in Swabia.

Founded

1955

Operated by

Zweckverband Schwäbisches Freilichtmuseum Illerbeuren

Director

Katharina Wischer

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

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

The grounds are accessible without barriers; the paths are not paved, but mostly well compacted. The historic buildings can mostly only be viewed from the outside or, with the help of a companion, on the ground floor. Free loan wheelchair at the entrance; three accessible toilets on the grounds; accessible parking spaces near the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

During the holidays open hands-on activities (Wed and Fri 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and free children's tours (Thu). Children's birthday parties on Fridays for ages 6–16 (2 hrs, €100 incl. materials and admission, max. 12 children). Handcarts for a fee at the entrance; changing facilities in the entrance building and in the peat inn; playground with low ropes course and old skittle alley near the peat inn.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A96 (exit Aitrach/Legau) or the A7 (exit Woringen). Illerbeuren is on the Iller cycle route and the Radrunde Allgäu; e-bike charging station at the town hall opposite the entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Museum inn Gromerhof at the entrance (closed Mon/Tue, also open without a museum visit). Peat inn on the grounds with Brotzeit (cold snack), coffee and cake (mid-May to mid-September Tue–Sun 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.). Museum shop at the entrance, pottery with sales in the Buxheimer Haus. Picnics allowed at designated rest areas; dogs on a lead welcome (not in the buildings).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil weddings in the parlour of the Grieshof (dates via the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Illerwinkel). The Gasthaus Gromerhof offers rooms for parties.

Plan your visit