Welcome
History of the Westphalian Open Air Museum
The decision taken by the Regional Committee of the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) in 1960 to build the Westphalian Open Air Museum of Rural History and Culture in Detmold provided the basis for the realisation of a long-cherished dream.
Approximately 80 hectares of land was set aside for this purpose by the Landesverband Lippe, and now, against the backcloth of the beautiful and historic Teutoburger Wald, one of the largest open air museums in Europe is gradually being assembled. Work began in 1966 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Josef Schepers, who led the operation until 1976. He not only formulated a comprehensive programme of action, but also set about recovering and salvaging dozens of historically important buildings and collecting an impressive array of traditional artefacts from all over the region. When it first opened in 1971 the Museum consisted of the groups of buildings which comprise the moated farm from the Münsterland, the farms from Minden and Osnabrück and two day-labourers`cottages. In 1981, the first phase of the Paderborn Village was opened to the public. Work continued in line with the original plan, and to date 100 buildings have been re-erected in the various settlement groups.
Between 1977 and 1980, in parallel with the reconstruction of the various traditional buildings, a programme of infrastructural work was initiated. In addition to supplying the Museum with water, electricity and gas and installing a security system, a self-contained water course with deep wells, pumps and gravity tanks was built to supply the streams and ponds. This water course will also power the planned watermills.
The construction unit which was established in 1975 contains among other things the workshops where the timber-framed buildings, furniture and implements of various kinds are restored.
The primary task of this Open Air Museum is to investigate, record and document the rural history and culture of Westphalia. The various combinations of buildings,surrounded as they would have been in their natural state by gardens, fields, meadows, or arable land, are arranged in units which reflect the diversity of settlement patterns, building techniques, lifestyles and economic conditions which once characterised the landscape of Westphalia.
Different types of buildings from every corner of rural Westphalia are or will eventually be featured: thus, for example, the Münsterland and the western part of the Ruhrgebiet are represented by the predominant form of settlement in those regions, namely the isolated farmstead; Minden, Lippe and Osnabrück by a cluster of farms: the Paderborn region by a village of arable farmsteads and artisans`houses surrounding a church in the centre and a fortified church yard, the Sauerland by a small village; and the Siegen and Wittgenstein areas by a hamlet. Chapels and wayside shrines, windmills and watermills complete this complex and fascinating pattern of human settlement.
Building history
20th century houses and their fixtures and fittings are as much at home here as structures from the 15th century – the oldest in the Museum. However, no attempt has been made to reconstruct buildings discovered on archeological sites.
Differences between the social classes are highlighted by the examples of large and small farms, tenanted cottages, the houses of retired farmers and artisans, and those occupied by the landed gentry, farm labourers and villagers.
From a historical point of view, the construction techniques exemplified by the North German hall-house in its various forms and with its diverse arrangement of rooms contrast sharply with those employed in building the type of house commonly found in the Siegerland region of central Germany. Different building materials, uses of colour and forms of decoration are as unique as the different parts of Westphalia from which they come.
Some buildings have not been altered in any way since the time they were built, whilst others display the tell-tale sings of renovation or modification. Although household furnishings and effects have been authentically arranged in their traditional contexts so as to demonstrate their original purpose, the mode of presentation adopted – which is obviously constrained both by the limits of our knowledge and by the scope of the Museum – should not be literally interpreted as reflecting the realities of life in the past. The Open Air Museum can only hope to give a partial and approximate account of historical truth.
Collections
The Museum is also engaged in assembling specialised collections of items representing the historical and cultural heritage of Westphalia. A new building complex is planned, which will also include a purpose-built exhibitions hall to house the comprehensive collection of historical artefacts which at present fall into the following main categries: folk art, household effects, childrens` toys, pewterware, ceramics, traditional costume and dress, textile-making, jewellery, trade and transport, weights and measures, forms of wall decoration, agricultural machinery, the history of education and architectural remains.
In the meantime, the visitor can see at least a small part of this rich and impressive collection in the temporary exhibition area which has been established in the barn from Westendorf in the Paderborn Village. The Museum also carries out research in areas such as the design, construction and use of buildings, the history of handicrafts and other artefacts and the social and cultural traditions of Westphalia. It maintains an archive of photographs and prints, as well as a library containing books on a variety of specialist subjects.
The Open Air Museum sets out to give the visitor a meaningful and rewarding insight into an important part of German`s rural past. A more commercialised approach undoubtedly detract from this primary objective and is therefore out of the question. However, to provide a better understanding of the various vacets of the working life of a traditional rural community, a number of different work processes are vividly demonstrated; for example, a miller is employed to operate the three wind- and watermills. The ancient methods of historical craftsmanship are shown day by day in the pottery and smithy.Trades which are supplementary to the farm work such as bakery, spinning or gardening are demonstrated in their respective rural environments. Following the seasons, the visitors are also made familiar with the gardening and can see the farmers working in the fields. As usual in rural environment, the visitor will meet lots of animals as pigs or sheep from Bentheim, chicken or geese, or also the famous Senner horses.
More Information?
Questions answered? Guided tours?
The Westphalian Open-Air Museum Detmold is a place where you can as well take a walk by yourself, have a guided tour or try out your knowledge with a quiz and lots of interesting questions – all of it in German as well as in English.
Please contact for more information & pedagogics our information office: phone +49 5231/706-104 from april to october.
