Alte Säge Tägerwilen

About the museum

The Alte Säge is located in the Oberdorf of Tägerwilen on the Allmendbach and belongs to the Oberes Mühleareal, which has been documented since 1582. When it was built is not recorded; in 1808 a wood saw is first mentioned in the fire insurance register, and the older part of the surviving sawmill probably dates from around 1830. From 1921 a low-voltage motor drove the saw, and the water wheel stood still. About ten years later the last sawyer had to shut down his old plant for economic reasons and continued working in an annex with a more powerful horizontal gang saw, which was replaced in 1951 by a band saw. The band saw is still in operation today.

In 1968 the site was sold and was to be demolished. Resistance to the planned development grew; in 1972 the municipality acquired the land, and in 1984 the Bürgergemeinde took it over and renovated the large mill building. An association was founded to preserve the saw; its members restored the plant over several years of voluntary work and drove the up-and-down saw with water power again. The final step was a new overshot water wheel made of local oak, four meters in diameter and weighing about 1.2 metric tons.

Today the Verein Alte Säge Tägerwilen operates the site. The ensemble includes the saw and the shed, a pond with a biotope, the Sägestube (sawing room) for exhibitions and events, and a barbecue area. On request, the association demonstrates the sawing operation, so visitors can experience how strenuous and loud the work was in the past.

Highlights

• Water-powered up-and-down saw from the 19th century, one of the few left in Switzerland
• Overshot oak water wheel, four meters in diameter
• Sawing demonstrations and guided tours on request
• Pond with a biotope and barbecue area in the Oberdorf
• Sägestube for exhibitions and events

Permanent exhibition

• Historische Wasserkraftsäge – The preserved up-and-down saw with its water wheel and the later band saw are shown in operation during demonstrations.

Operated by

Verein Alte Säge Tägerwilen

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The saw lies in a ravine along a hiking trail from Kreuzlingen to Ermatingen.

Amenities & dining

Barbecue area by the pond (barbecue rules of the association).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 50 guests.

The Sägestube on the ground floor and in the gallery is suitable for exhibitions, meetings, conferences, sessions, lectures and readings; display panels, projector and lighting are available.

Plan your visit