Museum Festival "Harvest Past" — Westerwald Open-Air Museum

Westerwald Open-Air Museum

The Westerwald Open-Air Museum in Hachenburg is one of the most important open-air museums in Rhineland-Palatinate. Numerous historic buildings from the Westerwald have been reconstructed on an extensive site: farmhouses, bakehouses, farm buildings, workshops, and mills offer an authentic insight into the rural life of past centuries.

Harvest in Great-Grandmother's Times

The "Harvest Past" museum festival is dedicated to traditional harvesting work as it was practiced in the Westerwald well into the 20th century. Scythes, sheaves, flails, horse-drawn carts, but also the first mechanical aids like the steam thresher were the tools of this hard agricultural work. The focus of the demonstrations is the combination of physical effort, manual skill, and social community.

The Historic Lanz Steam Thresher

A special attraction is the demonstration of the historic Lanz steam thresher. This machine, dating from the early 20th century, is a testament to the transition from purely manual labor to mechanized agriculture. The Lanz is only fired up on a few days a year today — the museum festival is one of these rare occasions to experience it in full action.

Hands-on Activities and Refreshments

In addition to the machine demonstrations, the museum festival offers numerous hands-on activities for families: baking bread in the historic bakehouse, old games, demonstrations of craft techniques. The Westerwald cuisine is presented with traditional dishes such as Westerwald cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, and freshly baked bread.

Living Local Culture

The "Harvest Past" museum festival is not just a historical reminiscence, but a lively engagement with the local history of the Westerwald. It makes the cultural roots of the region tangible for all generations and invites reflection on the changes in agriculture.