Museum offers visitors step back in time

  • Published
  • By Iris Reiff
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
For those who would like to visit a local museum that shows cultural history of the Mosel and Saar regions, including the Eifel, Hunsrueck and Luxembourg area, as well as parts of France, the Rohscheid Open-Air-Museum located about 10 minutes outside of Trier, near the town of Konz is the place to be. In addition to rich history, the Konz area offers beautiful landscapes and walking paths.

At Rohscheid, one can step back in time and enjoy learning about the lifestyles, habits and trades of old Germany and find out what it was like to live along the Mosel at least 100 years ago.

The Rohscheid museum was formerly the Rohscheid Hofgut estate, documented in 1330 as being a residency of the Benedict monks from St. Math's in Trier. Agricultural equipment and winepresses used by the monks and a fountain that dates back to those times can be found.

The museum was founded in 1976 when organizers started to display a large collection of historical documents, furniture, day-to-day items and anything available from previous times. An old, traditional drug store display offers a glimpse into shopping experiences.

Displays outlining the wine culture of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer wine regions. Take a look inside an old laundry room or enjoy a historical kitchen. Upstairs the barber's shop from 1950, an old classroom from 1912, as well as living facilities with a unique collection of original Gothic, Baroque and Biedermeier-style furniture fascinates visitors.

Walk through the former horse stables, which house a collection of old equipment and tools people used to do handicrafts, and past the special exhibition room to find the rose and herb gardens. Many rose bushes can be seen here from summer through fall. Going past a small half-timbered chapel that dates back to 1730, the way continues to the Hunsrueckweiler area, where you can walk through and look at a number of furnished, half-timbered houses. From here, there is a wonderful view over the mouth of the Saar and Mosel Rivers that flow in the deep valley.

Consider ending this historical walk, which lasts about an hour, with a stop at the Gutschenke Gasthaus inside the courtyard.

Special exhibitions, featuring handicraft, such as lace work or art can be seen at the Roschscheid museum during certain weeks and on certain weekends of the year; however, change frequently. It is recommended to contact the museum for more information about special events.

Entry to the museum is 4 Euro for adults; 3 Euro for students and children above age 14, unemployed or disabled people with a special pass; 2 Euro for children between age isx-14 and 10 Euro for families. Children up to age six get in for free. Groups of 16 or more pay 3 Euro per person. Guided tours in English, German, French or Dutch are available upon request and the cost 25 Euro for the group.

The museum is open year-round from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and German holidays. People may enter the museum until one hour prior to closing time. For more information about the museum, call 06501-92710. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

To get to the Rohscheid museum, take the Autobahn to Trier and stay on Zurmaiener road, going along the Mosel river. As you leave Trier, follow the signs to Konz and later to Rohscheid museum.

The address for the museum for a navigation system is: Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider Hof, Roscheiderhof 1, D-54329 Konz

Museum highlights
o Folklore exhibitions ranging from wine-growing to dentistry in the historical exhibition building
o The museum of forestry and wood
o A tin figure and toy museum
o Open grounds with the Hunsrück village, a Moselle village, that is currently being reconstructed, a rose garden and several country gardens
o A restaurant with beer garden and large nature-oriented children's playground
o Activity days, special exhibitions, a legendary Christmas market two weekends in December
o Guided tours, special projects for museum visitors both young and old, location for children's birthday parties, etc.