Eco Museum, Alsace

My favourite visit in Alsace was spending the morning in a reconstructed large village. The original idea was in 1971 when it was decided to preserve and save old buildings. It was first opened to the public in 1984.

A group of students  a group of students created the association ” Maisons paysannes d’Alsace ”  (Farm or pheasant houses of Alsace).

Twenty buildings then made up the Écomusée d’Alsace, to which were added a fortified tower, a sawmill, a potter’s workshop…and thousands of objects or pieces of furniture donated in particular by the Alsatians themselves !   There are now 80 buildings representing Alsace.  The interiors are as beautiful as the typical half-timbered houses. The gardens are full of flowers, vegetables and herbs.

There are storks' nest on just about ever house roof. Each nest held two parents and two babies as far as I could see.

The artisans reveal to the public all the facets of their trades : from the potter to the barber, from the baker to the blacksmith, they work for the safeguarding of this intangible heritage, transmitted from generation to generation. It is an enchantment to see them perform these sometimes spectacular and often centuries-old gestures!


Workshops, animations and exhibitions take place all year through.


It was all so beautiful and interesting and I could have stayed there a whole day!

The main photo is of the Shoemaker's House.

Extras:
-  Pharmacy
-  Tavern
-  Tavern (further away)
-  The Mill