Gemeindemuseum Rothus

About the museum

The Gemeindemuseum Oberriet is housed in the “Rothus” in the district of Eichenwies, an imposing half-timbered building that, according to dendrochronological studies, dates from 1731 at the earliest. The Lüchinger family had a small ensemble of four houses built here: the Rothus, the Rössli, the Alte Post and the Konkordia Konsumgesellschaft department store originally belonged together. The store was demolished when the present road was built in the 1970s; part of its first floor has been rebuilt inside the barn of the museum as the Lüchingerstube.

The building was designed for several uses. On the ground floor with its vaulted cellar there was a Sust, a trading point for goods, later also a smithy, a rope-maker's, a general store and a bakery; the upper floors held a council chamber, a schoolroom and apartments. After a fire in 1973 the house was renovated, and in 1975 the Gemeindemuseum moved into the northern part. The Museumsverein Oberriet had already been founded on November 30, 1973; it still runs the Museum Rothus with permanent and special exhibitions.

The exhibitions show rural life and work in the region in the 19th and 20th centuries, including a smithy, a wheelwright's, a shoemaker's and a working mill. Since 2022 there has been an alpine exhibition on the municipality's cow alps, and since autumn 2024 the exhibition “vom Törgga zum Ribel” on Rhine Valley (Rheintal) Ribel maize has been shown in the loft of the museum's cowshed. A library, a photo archive and audiovisual recordings complement the collection.

Highlights

• “Rothus” half-timbered building from 1731 with the Lüchingerstube
• Smithy, wheelwright's and shoemaker's from rural everyday life
• Still working mill in the museum's cowshed
• Exhibition “vom Törgga zum Ribel” on Rhine Valley Ribel maize
• Alpine exhibition on the municipality's former cow alps

Permanent exhibitions

• Bäuerliches Leben und Arbeiten – Rural life in the 19th and 20th centuries with a smithy, a wheelwright's, a shoemaker's and a working mill, as well as themes such as peat cutting, woodworking, Rhine floods and customs.
• vom Törgga zum Ribel – The path of Rhine Valley Ribel maize from the field to the Ribel pan, with tools, information panels and drawings in the loft of the museum's cowshed.
• Alpenausstellung – Multi-year exhibition on the former cow alps of the municipality of Oberriet, centered on the Chäs-Chessi cheese kettle of the Alp Oberrieter Kienberg.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Museumsverein Oberriet

Director

Ute Kurz

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

According to museums.ch, there is at least one offer for families and children; four museum kits with objects are available for schools to borrow.

Getting there & parking

In the district of Eichenwies on the through road (Staatsstrasse), at the junction toward Eichberg.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

According to museums.ch, there is a shop. The same building also houses a bakery with café (“Bäckerei/Café Rothus”).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit