LVR-Freilichtmuseum Lindlar

Over het museum

The open-air museum in the Lingenbach valley near Lindlar, about 30 kilometers east of Cologne, is, besides Kommern, the second open-air museum of the Landschaftsverband Rheinland. From the early 1990s, historic buildings from the Bergisches Land were rebuilt here, and in 1998 the museum officially opened. Its subtitle "Bergisches Freilichtmuseum für Ökologie und bäuerlich-handwerkliche Kultur" (Bergisches Open-Air Museum for Ecology and Rural Craft Culture) describes the program: besides cultural history, the focus is on the environment, biodiversity and sustainable management. For this purpose, a small-scale cultural landscape with fields, orchard meadows and gardens was recreated on about 30 hectares, as was typical before the land consolidation of the 1950s.

The buildings are arranged in groups that show different layers of time. The farm "Zum Eigen" stands for the subsistence economy up to the mid-19th century; the Oberlingenbach building group for the period after 1871, when the railway and urban lifestyle reached the villages – with an original furnished Wuppertal carter's tavern, a ribbon weaver's house, a village school and a water-powered hammer works. The already existing hamlet of Steinscheid stands for the postwar period; in 2018 the area "Am Mühlenberg" was added. The stately Gut Dahl from Wülfrath shows a household around 1850, and next to it, a museum hostel has stood since 2012.

Today the museum comprises about 40 buildings, and more are being rebuilt. Craftspeople take turns demonstrating old techniques, for example in the bakehouse, rope-making shop and forge; festivals such as the orchard meadow festival and potato festival attract many guests. The exhibition "Ein Tal wird Museum" (A Valley Becomes a Museum) in the entrance building tells the story of the museum's creation. Since June 2026 the museum has been directed by Sandra Badelt.

Hoogtepunten

• Gaststätte Römer – an original furnished inn from the time before World War I
• Ribbon weaver's house with a loom more than 100 years old
• Müllershammer with water wheel and historic textile machines
• Craft demonstrations in the bakehouse, rope-making shop and forge
• Reconstructed Bergisch cultural landscape with orchard meadows, fields and gardens
• Historic kiosk from Wermelskirchen with candy like in the old days

Vaste collectie

• Ein Tal wird Museum – Exhibition in the entrance building that uses a timeline, texts and photos to present the creation of the open-air museum, its collection and the fields of work of a museum.

Opgericht

1998

Beheerder

Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR)

Directie

Sandra Badelt

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: Every first Friday of the month (not on public holidays)

Parking fee €2 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from March 1 to October 31; special rules apply during events. Free admission with the LVR-Museumskarte (annual pass) and for refugees and up to two caregivers; further concessions including for ICOM members and members of the friends' association of the NRW-Stiftung.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

"Reisen für Alle" certificate (accessibility checked, valid until 2028). Hilly terrain with partly gravel paths; wheelchair users are best accompanied; very steep sections in the "Am Mühlenberg" area. Mobile ramps at many buildings; the museum's own e-scooters are currently unavailable due to maintenance. Accessible restrooms under the forge, at the Zehntscheune, in the Lingenbacher Hof and at "Am Mühlenberg". Information also in German Sign Language and Easy Language.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Speeltuin / speelhoek
• Kinderfeestjes

Nature playground between the rope-making shop and the museum restaurant Lingenbacher Hof, sand play area for toddlers at the building group "Hof zum Eigen", and play area in the beer garden. Explorer booklet "Dem Wasser auf der Spur" for the "Wasserwege" circular trail (water wheel you can drive yourself), museum quiz and app quiz (Biparcours, ages 10 and up); animals and craft demonstrations. Children's birthday parties for up to 12 children (2 hours) and open woodworking shop for ages 9 and up.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

By car via the A 4, exit Untereschbach (then L 299, approx. 15 km) or exit Engelskirchen. The north gate is open only during special events.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

Museum restaurant Lingenbacher Hof (from 10:00 on museum days); kiosk "Schieferbüdchen" in the historic kiosk from Wermelskirchen with coffee, ice cream and candy (Sun 12:00–15:00); museum store with regional products in the entrance building. Hand cart rental (€3), umbrellas and ten lockers against a deposit, free museum quiz for children, picnic areas; no trash cans on the grounds.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

The museum hostel in Gut Dahl (40 beds) can be rented for celebrations, workshops and conferences; overnight stays only together with a museum education program (min. 14 people). The museum restaurant Lingenbacher Hof takes bookings for weddings, birthdays and company parties (02266 47192-142).

Je bezoek plannen