Historische Werkstätte Mulin Schnaus
Water-wheel-powered workshop of 1877 in Schnaus near Ilanz where the famous Schnaus ploughs were made; visits only on special occasions or by registration.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Arnold Giger, born in 1843 in Quarten on Lake Walen, was a trained sawmill and mill builder. Around 1871 he settled in Schnaus above Ilanz and in 1877 built the workshop as it stands today. A water wheel drives all the machines in it via a rope transmission, and they still work today.
The forge became famous for the Schnaus or Giger plough. Thanks to its iron-and-wood construction, it cut and turned the soil in a single pass and was much more durable than the older wooden ploughs. Around 50 ploughs left the workshop each year; Arnold Giger advertised them in spring in the "Gasetta Romontscha" and at the market in Ilanz. In 1909 his sons had the invention patented. In total, between 2,500 and 3,000 ploughs were made here.
In the 1970s the Schnaus plough experienced a renaissance: the King of Bhutan introduced the adapted technology in his country, and some farmers in Bolivia use it too. Today the site is a "moving museum" in which the wheel, transmission and machines can be demonstrated. So that the workshop also runs when water is scarce, a storage lake was created above it, the Giger Seeli. A forest educational trail with bilingual signs (German and Romansh) leads to the workshop.
Highlights
- Water wheel with a rope transmission over 75 metres long
- Still-working machines of the workshop of 1877
- History of the Schnaus plough, which reached as far as Bhutan and Bolivia
- Forest educational trail with German and Romansh plant signs
- Easter egg hunt and Swiss Mill Day as occasions to visit
Permanent exhibitions
- Wasserbetriebene Werkstatt – A water wheel with rope transmission drives the historic machines of the forge and millwright workshop.
- Schnauserpflug und Arnold Giger – History of the iron-and-wood plough built in the workshop and of its inventor Arnold Giger.
- Founded
- 1998
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 7 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | CHF 3Children and young people (7 to 16 years according to museums.ch) |
| Groups | –Group tour on request, at least CHF 50.– |
| Group tour on request (minimum price) | CHF 50 |
Free admission with the Surselva Card during the published opening hours.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Traditional Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday; a forest educational trail with plant signs leads to the workshop.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Strada · 15-min walk
By train to Ilanz, then PostBus to the Strada stop; from there around a quarter of an hour on foot via Schnaus along the old valley path towards Rueun.
By car
Parking available · 10-min walk to the entrance
Car park on the cantonal road at the turn-off to the Schnaus gravel plant; from there around 10 minutes on foot through the forest.
Drivers can also go directly to the Historic Workshop.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tour and guided visits by arrangement; aperitifs, light snacks and barbecues can be organised on request. |
