Voithenberghammer

About the museum

Baron Zacharias Voith von Voithenberg had the hammer forge built in 1823 in the Kalte Pastritz valley between the districts of Schafberg and Voithenberghütte, near the Czech border. He did not operate it himself but leased it to master hammersmiths. Here, cutting tools for everyday farm and craft use were made – no weapons, despite the nickname “Waffenschmiede” (arms forge), which might suggest otherwise.

The heyday lasted until around 1900. As industry grew in the west and the inner-German customs borders fell, the valley grew quieter; in 1926 the hammer rang out for the last time. The forge had three water wheels, for the hammer, the bellows and a large grindstone. Since 1978 the Heimat- und Volkstrachtenverein “Pastritztaler” Schafberg has restored the complex, so that it works again and the heavy hammers run on water power.

Besides the forge, an exhibition room displays metal utensils like those made in the forges of the Upper Palatinate. In 2004 the association also dismantled a barn from Schlammering and rebuilt it next to the forge. The museum barn shows equipment and machines on two floors for fieldwork and harvest, household and baking, beekeeping, weaving and spinning, fruit pressing and cider-making, and forestry work. It also has a small wheelwright’s and carpenter’s workshop and pictures of old village views.

Highlights

• Working hammer forge from 1823, powered by a water wheel
• Forge demonstrations on open Sundays
• Exhibition room with metal utensils from earlier forges
• Museum barn with agricultural tools and machines
• Inn in the clubhouse with coffee and cake

Permanent exhibitions

• Hammerschmiede von 1823 – Working water-wheel forge, where the heavy hammers are demonstrated on open Sundays.
• Ausstellungsraum Schmiedeerzeugnisse – Metal utensils once made in the forges of the Upper Palatinate.
• Museumsstadel – Old agricultural tools and machines for fieldwork, the household, beekeeping, weaving, cider-making and forestry work, across two floors.

Operated by

Heimat- und Volkstrachtenverein „Pastritztaler“ Schafberg Furth im Wald e. V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

According to the association, seeing the heavy hammers in action is an experience for young and old alike.

Getting there & parking

The hammer forge lies in the Kalte Pastritz valley between the districts of Schafberg and Voithenberghütte, near the Czech border (Voithenberghütte 26).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

Inn in the clubhouse, run by club members: homemade cakes and tortes, coffee and small snacks. Open on the 1st Sunday of the month from May to October, and also on the 3rd Sunday, in each case 09:30–18:00.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit