I can honestly say, that apart from the beach (and quite possibly the gorgeous Scandinavian Design shops – how I miss you Illums Bolighus!), the place I probably miss the most from our two years in Denmark is the Frilandsmuseet, as we were lucky enough to have it quite literally on our doorstep. This Open Air Museum – set in a mass of beautiful rolling fields, features buildings of special historic interest that have (quite literally in some cases) been picked up from other parts of the country, and rebuilt with any and all modernised features removed and replaced with historically correct features instead… So when you step through a doorway here now, the houses and farm buildings (there are also shops, windmills, a post office and a railway station here!) are almost exactly how they would have been when people first lived in them – right down to the utensils in the kitchen, and the linen on the teeny tiny beds… Not tiny because people were much smaller in those days mind you (which they usually were) but because you were tempting bad health and horrific dreams if you slept lying down by all accounts…
Add to the experience wandering farm animals a plenty, and many a garden to explore (often planted full of the vegetables and herbs typical of that period) and it makes for a fantastic place to spend a day with the kids, whilst giving everyone a fascinating insight into what life was like in days gone by…
One of the Museum’s many Alpine houses…
And guess what? We have them here too! On a recent trip to Schliersee in the Bavarian foothills, we discovered The Bauernhof Museum (the brainchild of Alpine Skier and twice Gold Olympic Medal Winner Markus Wasmeier), and this Open Air Museum is perhaps even more detailed than its Copenhagen counterpart – albeit slightly more compact… Obviously the surroundings are very different in comparison, but what we have given up in terms of Danish beaches and flat landscapes, we have gained in lakes and mountains – even if those mountains can churn up the most magnificent storm at incredibly short notice – hence the haziness to a few of my pictures! This particular storm had us scattering in all directions for the shelter of the ancient houses – not that easy if you are carrying a cello (various festivals and events are held here throughout the year, and we happened to visit on a big music festival day with musicians taking up residence in many of the buildings, and outside (when it wasn’t raining!) to show off their talents)…
Whilst not huge fans of absolutely every museum that we stumble across, this one definitely went down well with the Small People, who half expected to find Heidi having lunch in one of the alpine buildings. There are also plenty of hills to expend energy running up and down, and things you don’t see everyday like wool being spun, and traditional hives full of bees… They also loved the shoemakers (no elves to be found though), and the blacksmiths – full of weird and wonderful creations…
Make sure you visit the electricity exhibition upstairs in the Lukashhof too, complete with fabulous full-scale rooms demonstrating the use of domestic electricity throughout the ages.
As you might expect from the Bavarian version of such a place, it also has a fully functioning brewery – the wares of which are sold in the adjacent reconstructed traditional Inn. Here you can relax in the bier garten, have some lunch and take in the breathtaking surroundings…
We loved this place, and now we know where this one is, I am sure we will be back again and again – plus the bier is pretty good too…
Markus Wasmeier Open Air Museum
Schliersee,
Brunnbichl 5,
83727 Schliersee/Neuhaus
Bavaria
Emma says
Looks wonderful Emma, I reckon my kids would love love it there too. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. xx
bavaria says
It was so lovely to see you Emma! :) xx
Trish says
Just beautiful – and its own brewery too!
bavaria says
Thank you… Yes, it wouldn’t be Bavarian otherwise! :D
A Patchwork Life says
Your photos capture it so beautifully. Think these are my favourite kind of museums – like walking through history. There’s a great one near Belfast called the Ulster Folk Museum. Been going since I was the age my daughter is now xx
bavaria says
Thanks so much T! :) Love hearing about all these new places I must put on the list too! :) xx
Molly S says
Love the look of this place – I really must go back and explore more of Denmark! And anywhere with a brewery is good as far as I’m concerned :)
bavaria says
Thanks Molly… These pictures are all of the Bavarian Open Air Museum, next post is Copenhagen! :)
Grace says
Your photos just get better! x
bavaria says
Thanks Mum! :) xx
Helen The good life mum says
oh my word i think i just stepped back in time looking at this post, just gorgeous
bavaria says
Thanks Helen! Hope all is well! :)
becky says
oh these sound like the best museums EVER
bavaria says
They are great, thanks Becky! :)
Louisa says
I can see why children would enjoy this experience. When you can see and feel things, learning is far more interesting. I love seeing how people used to live. I would like to visit something similar in Italy.
bavaria says
Thanks Louisa, let me know if you find one in Italy, I am sure we would love that one too! :)
Mummy Barrow says
These pictures just scream BAVARIA dont they. They couldnt have been taken anywhere else.
So gorgeous
bavaria says
They do…. Thank you T! :) x
Rachel says
As always, beautiful photos! Everything looks so quaint!
bavaria says
It’s really worth a visit Rachel, thank you! :)
Ruth says
Goodness, what a fascinating place. Love your photos – you really give a good sense of what it’s like – there’s so much character. And anywhere with a brewery must be good, right?! x
bavaria says
Thank you, and yes, when it’s Bavarian bier we are talking about, it’s usually good! :D x
Sonya Cisco says
Love the sound of an outdoor museum, not sure I have ever been to one – but they sound quirky and fun!
bavaria says
They are great, thanks Sonya! :)
Sarah@The View From the Table says
Ah, I so wanted Heidi to pop up here too!
bavaria says
Me too, and a few goats, would have made for a good pic! :D Thank you…
Aly says
Oh that house and garden remind me so much of watching Heidi as a kid.I’ve decided what fencing I want for my garden now.I think it’s willow by the looks of it.
bavaria says
Thank you Aly, yes this is prime Heidi country! :)
older mum in a muddle says
How interesting (love the photo of the church BTW)…. love all the attention to the detail and the little person person’s bed made for a baby bear! X
bavaria says
Gorgeous isn’t it? You can just imagine what it was like, especially when there are fires lit in the hearths etc. Thank you xx
Sarah MumofThree World says
It looks fantastic – kind of like a Bavarian Black Country Museum! Love the photo of the church spire almost glowing in the storm.
bavaria says
There’s a Black Country Museum? That sounds good! Thank you… :)
Domestic Goddesque says
I so love your photography. Enviable :)
bavaria says
Thank you so much! :)
Liz Burton says
Love the idea of an open air museum. They both look totally amazing, glad you’ve found one nearby. Particularly one with beer!
bavaria says
Thanks Liz! :)
Mammasaurus says
Oh my I look at this and I’m transported back to 1983 where I am sat watching Heidi on tv. What a magical looking place, oh how I want to go!
bavaria says
You would love it Annie! Thank you! :) x
Mum of One says
So pretty! And what a beautiful looking white church.
bavaria says
Thank you (:
Alison says
I love museums like this, it is so fascinating to look back at the past. This does look like a set from Heidi, so beautiful
bavaria says
Thanks Alison! :)