The museum was beautifully decorated for Advent, clearly very popular as it was packed. The lighting of the buildings and the frozen pond was especially nice, as were the oil torches lighting the paths. Be prepared for a nice walk between the two "villages". Easy to get to using public transportation, and during the three-day opening for Advent you can buy your entrance including bus fare when you get into the bus.
Lots and lots of buildings 'in the old days' showing what life was like, very pretty area, definitely worth taking a picnic. You can take dogs too but they must stay on a lead and are not allowed in the buildings so you need to tag team! Kids loved learning all about it and seeing the wildlife there too. As it progresses into summer they farm everything there. Several restaurants if you don't want to picnic. Really reasonably priced, €15 for a whole family. A horse and cart taxi will take you (for a small extra charge) to the far end of the park so you only have to walk one way if you want. It is a couple of Km's at least, so quite a lot for little legs!
The Freilicht museum is a very large open air museum, with many interesting buildings/farmhouses/barns, gardens, animals etc. You see how life in WestPhalen many, many years ago was. You could go there for half a day, but in fact that is too short to see everything. There is a large terrace and restaurant to eat and drink and stroll back.
The entrance fee is really good value for a lovely family day out. There are plenty of places where you can picnic or you can eat at a traditional German Gasthof at the top village. I love to buy buns for the children from the traditional working bakery and as there is virtually no traffic, I feel I can let the children explore a bit on their own. I usually take my summer visitors here for a day out and it's always been a hit.
This is an absolutely amazing collection of genuine antique buildings that demonstrate life in Germany from about 1500-1800. Some buildings showcase rural homesteads; others feature village life. The displays have signs in German, French, and English to explain what the visitors see at each spot. Some locations have employees dressed in period clothing to talk about their buildings. The detail and care that has been put into this museum is unbelievable. We simply couldn't fathom the level of research, work, and thought that was put into this place. If you've ever been to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, this is sort of like that but far less commercial. You can buy baked goods at the old bakery and food at a few other places, but aside from the gift shop near the entrance, that's about it. Clearly, the point of this museum is to educate the visitors, not make a lot of money. The museum accomplishes its goal beautifully. If you're in the Detmold area and have time, be sure to see this astonishing place!
Quite a few Westphalian farmhouses from the past have found here a place to resist against modern times. Beautiful rebuild with care for every detail. The distance from one end to the park to the other is such that visitors must be prepared to walk a circuit of several kilometers length. The museum could improve even further by emphasizing a larger variety of objects (other than yet another farmhouse) in future expansions
If you are interested in a look into the lives of farmers 500 years ago then this is the place to go. I found it to be quite interesting and have been there a few times. It's not a "must see" spot if you have an afternoon and are in or near Detmold then it is definitely worth it.
This open air museum was different then I thought it would be. It's a couple of old houses, mostly farm houses, grouped together to give a couple of images of an older Germany. It is like reliving that period. The best was eating the "Kartoffel mit Kraeuter Soss", which was a typical potato you could eat at one of the restaurants inside. The price you pay for what you see was personally too much.
This museum is a wonderful way to get a sense of the past and, if you happen to have an ancestor from northern Germany - especially Lippe or eastern Wetphalia - this is not to be missed. Expect to walk around wide, easy to maneuver dirt paths. The buildings were relocated to this site from various villages in the region and reconstructed exactly to show the various different types of buildings and home in farming regions. If you happen to know your ancestor's status or type of home, you can see how their abode differed from those of others. It's a great way to get a feel for the differing lifestyles and wherewithal of different rungs and occupations of the populace. There is a wagon that will take you to the farthest area of the site, for a fee. I suggest you take the wagon from near the entrance to the other end to get the lay of the land. Then walk back at your leisure - downhill!
This is one of my favourite places to visit when the weather is good. It's like stepping back in time, seeing buildings from the past. It is spread out so no high heels, but if you need a rest stop, the restaurant is excellent, as is the bakery. Unfortunately things aren't translated into English so bring a guide or just enjoy what this place offers.