How did people build, live or farm in the rural regions of Salzburg in the past? The largest open-air museum in the Salzburg region took us on an interactive journey of discovery through six centuries of agriculture, crafts and rural industry. With the museum railway, we were able to explore over 70 original buildings from six centuries, including farms, mills, breweries, power stations, village schools and more.
The moon sets behind the trees in Dorfbeuern, it will be a mild and sunny day today.And it turns out to be wonderful, indeed. We arrive at the open air museum in Grossgmain early, get our family ticket and start exploring :) I’m in old-houses-heaven!We wander from farm to farm, explore and have the opportunity not only to see but to smell, touch – invaluable.The farm houses are most interesting, of course, but the surroundings, from house bench, rain barrels, different ways to build a fence, to kitchen garden, are intriguing as well.The train, that goes through the whole of Salzburg, from Flachgau to Lungau :)Lucky us, the one we hop on is the one that goes into “the mountains” so we spare ourselves the uphill walking.We can see a preview of what’s to come already from our train wagon … every now and then the whistle in the front goes off to alert other visitors and I almost start singing the lyrics of that kid’s book (wheels on the bus).Most of the buildings can be entered, sometimes parts are closed off for safety reasons, but usually hallways are open rooms (usually kitchen, bedrooms and working spaces) can be viewed through the door frames.The combined barn and house architecture was very common in the past.Almost there.The other train, all red, meets us at some point.Small windows, rock foundation, stables very close, big family kitchen, big craft area where butter was made, and an impressive ‘Rauchkuchl’ … Built to last through long, cold winters.Feeding lots of hungry mouths through the year :)More craft on the first floor, spinning, weaving, woodworking …Could be really nice – with a few pillows here and there ;)People were shorter, it seems, or it’s the kid’s bedroom, not sure. Clothes were stored in big chests, probably the “good” ones.
