Franconian Open-Air Museum Reopens with Crafts, Food and Spring Festivities

Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen Reopens for the Season on March 28

After its winter break, the Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen will reopen its doors on Saturday, March 28, inviting visitors on a journey through the rural everyday history of Lower Franconia and the Rhön region.

Season Kickoff with a Colorful Program Through Easter The 2026 season runs until the end of the Bavarian autumn holidays on November 8. In March and April, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, as well as Easter Monday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; from May to September, it welcomes guests daily.

On Sunday, March 29, visitors can look forward to a diverse opening event: Artisans will showcase their handcrafted wares—from ceramics and natural floral arrangements to cushions and clothing.

Demonstrations at the spinning wheel offer insights into traditional craft techniques, while regional products and freshly baked goods from the wood-fired oven will be available. The historic kitchen of the Leutershausen farmstead will host the popular interactive cooking program, where guests can join in.

Shortly afterward, the museum invites families to celebrate Easter with special activities: On Easter Sunday and Monday (April 5–6), children can hunt for eggs in the Leutershausen farmstead, paint wooden rabbits and hens, and solve tricky Easter puzzles across the museum grounds with their families.

Additionally, the museum blacksmith will demonstrate his craft at the anvil of the Waldberg forge, and on Easter Sunday, the Oberbernhards communal bakehouse will be in operation.

Award-Winning Regional Quality: The Rhön Brand Seal The Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen has been recognized as a partner of the Rhön regional brand, earning its Quality Seal. Stefan Funk, President of the Franconian District Assembly and Chairman of the Open-Air Museum Association, emphasizes the significance of this honor:

"The Rhön Quality Seal stands for guaranteed origin, short transport routes, sustainable local value creation, and outstanding product quality—values that the Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen has long embodied, whether in preserving the cultural landscape, maintaining traditional crafts, or producing its own regional goods. This award is a fitting affirmation of our work and a strong signal for the entire region."

The seal will now adorn the museum's homemade fruit brandies and apple juice—both made exclusively from fruit grown in its own traditional orchards—as well as its traditionally brewed museum beer.

The latter will be crafted on April 1 during Brewing Day in the historic Alsleben communal brewery, where the museum's brewers will prepare a naturally cloudy Märzen lager. The finished beer will be tapped for the first time on June 14 and available exclusively in the museum shop, while the brandies and apple juice will be on sale throughout the season.

Special Exhibition: "Miniature Living Trends" (March 29 – November 8, 2026) Just in time for the season opener, the museum launches its special exhibition "Miniature Living Trends: Modern Dollhouse Furniture from 1950 to 2000", tracing the success story of Bodo Hennig, a trained toymaker and turner who began designing dollhouse furniture in 1950 with an uncanny knack for interior trends. By the 1980s, his company had become Germany's market leader.

The exhibition takes visitors on a captivating journey through time, featuring iconic pieces in miniature: the kidney-shaped table of the 1950s, the cozy Hollywood swing chair of the 1960s, the legendary Panton Chair of the 1970s, and the "Ambiente" dollhouse from 1990 with its pyramid-shaped glass roof—all meticulously recreated.

Life-sized, authentically furnished rooms bring the living styles of five decades to life. The exhibition is located on the upper floor of the entrance building and open during regular museum hours.

New for Families: Museum Rallyes with Theresia Starting in 2026, the Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen will offer two new museum rallyes featuring its beloved mascot, Theresia, as a permanent program for children.

These interactive discovery tours guide young visitors in primary school on a playful exploration of the museum grounds, turning history into a hands-on adventure.

No Pre-Booking Required: A Perfect Addition to Educational Programs and Seasonal Holiday Activities

The offer is available without prior registration and complements the museum's existing educational programs as well as its seasonal holiday activities.

30 Years of the Rhön Trains: Open-Air Museum with Its Own Standard-Gauge Railway On September 15, 1996, the section between Ostheim vor der Rhön and Fladungen of the former Streutal Railway was reopened as a heritage railway line.

To this day, the Franconian Open-Air Museum in Fladungen remains the only open-air museum in Germany with its own standard-gauge heritage railway. Starting May 3, the Rhön Trains will once again steam through the Streu Valley on selected operating days—tickets are available online.

For the 2026 season, some of the heritage railway's schedules have been adjusted to provide better connections for visitors arriving by public transport, ensuring smoother transfers to Deutsche Bahn trains at Mellrichstadt station.

This autumn, the museum will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Rhön Trains. On September 19 and 20, railway enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy a diverse program at Fladungen station and across the museum grounds, including a Lego train exhibit where children can operate the electric trains themselves.

The event weekend is part of the nationwide Railway Day, offering the general public insights into both modern and historic rail travel.

Book Tickets and Courses Online with Ease The Franconian Open-Air Museum in Fladungen is expanding its services: From now on, visitors can conveniently book admission tickets, cultural events, hands-on workshops, holiday programs, and gift vouchers through the museum's new online shop—flexibly and independently of opening hours.

The shop is available at: shop.freilandmuseum-fladungen.de

About the Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen The Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen invites visitors on a journey through 350 years of rural everyday life in Lower Franconia and the Rhön region.

Spread across 12 hectares in Bavaria's northernmost town, the museum offers an immersive historical experience, allowing visitors to explore meticulously reconstructed houses and farmsteads.

It is the only open-air museum in Germany with its own standard-gauge heritage railway, the Rhön Trains. The museum is operated by the Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen Association, chaired by Stefan Funk, President of the Franconian District Assembly.