Deutsch-deutsches Freilandmuseum

Over het museum

In 1999 the Erhard family from Lower Franconia came across the decaying remains of the former GDR border fortifications near Behrungen in Thuringia. They acquired the border tower with command post built in 1978, along with its surroundings, and restored it themselves in about a year; later, parts of the border signal and barrier fence and of the former state border were added. This created a memorial and warning site that shows the entire staggered layout of the border installations in the former border section 44.

In 2003 the memorial joined with relics on the Bavarian side to form the Deutsch-deutsches Freilandmuseum: in Rappershausen, a former official border information point in the old town hall and a lookout tower from which visitors once looked "across the border" were preserved. The operator is the Deutsches Kuratorium zur Förderung von Wissenschaft, Bildung und Kultur; partners include the police, the Federal Border Guard, the district, and the neighboring municipalities. The project deliberately does not accept public funding.

In addition to the tower, the site includes a passage gate, patrol road, vehicle barrier ditch, border marker, and a replica of an earth bunker; many parts are protected as architectural or archaeological monuments. An educational trail connects the stations and links monument preservation with nature conservation. To convey the border situation as authentically as possible, the museum deliberately forgoes a café, souvenirs, and advertising.

Hoogtepunten

• Border tower with command post of 1978 and exhibition
• Original staggered border layout with fence, gate, and patrol road
• Former border information point in Rappershausen
• Lookout tower with views over the Grabfeld
• Monument preservation and nature trail along the former border

Vaste collectie

• Mahn- und Gedenkstätte bei Behrungen – Originally preserved staggered border layout with border tower, barrier fence, gate, patrol road, and state border; the simple exhibition in the tower is accessible on guided tours.
• Grenzinformationsstelle Rappershausen – Former West German border information point with exhibits and models, complemented by the lookout tower above the village.

Opgericht

2003

Beheerder

Deutsches Kuratorium zur Förderung von Wissenschaft, Bildung und Kultur e.V.

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

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Toegankelijkheid

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Kinderen & gezin

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Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Approach via the connecting road Behrungen–Mendhausen–Wolfmannshausen (route of the Erlebnisstraße der deutschen Einheit), signposted for tourists. From the A 71 exit Rentwertshausen-Behrungen, for the Bavarian side exit Mellrichstadt-Hendungen. On the grounds, drive only on the military access roads; the area of the former state border is closed to vehicles. Enter at your own risk; camping, grilling, and open fires are prohibited.

Service & horeca

• Café: niet aanwezig
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel: niet aanwezig

Deliberately no restaurants, vending machines, picnic areas, or souvenirs on the grounds; places to eat are available in the surrounding villages.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd – vraag het rechtstreeks na bij het museum.

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