The Austrian Saddlery Museum gives Hofkirchen im Traunkreis a distinct cultural focus. It is located in the home of the last saddler in Hofkirchen and displays a workshop typical of the region in the early 20th century. This offers a glimpse into a craft and its regional historical context.
Craftsmanship at the Austrian Saddlery Museum
The museum includes two faithfully recreated workshops: one belonging to a saddler and one to a shoemaker. Both provide a realistic insight into the craft and working environment of the respective profession. The two rooms focus on different crafts; visitors interested in the working lives of both professions can view them side by side during their museum visit. Both workshops are open to museum visitors.
There is also a hands-on activity for children: in a mini-workshop, they can decorate and take home their own leather bracelet. Alongside viewing the workshops, this offers a practical way to engage with leather as a material. If you would like to include the workshop in your plans, check the current booking arrangements in advance.
Another part of the museum is the exhibition storehouse “THE LIBRARY OF THINGS.” It is intended to catalogue around 6,000 objects in the future. Visitors can view the archive on every guided tour. The workshops and the archive therefore offer different perspectives on the museum: the workshops showcase two specific professions, while the exhibition storehouse is conceived as a collection.
The collection of the Austrian Saddlery Museum comprises objects from four centuries. This time span complements the specific workshop displays with a collection covering a broader historical period. The collection should not simply be equated with the two professions represented: its objects come from four centuries.
Local History and Heritage Protection
Another historical landmark is the F. Arnleitner School at Dorfplatz 4. The building is protected as a historic monument under an ordinance. In 1953, the school was named “Friedrich Arnleitner – School.” The protected building and its name tell two different aspects of its history: the building’s heritage protection and the school’s later naming.
Another turning point in local history came in 1326: on December 6, Hofkirchen became an independent parish. The priest continued to live at the abbey. The date and the priest’s continued residence there are both part of the recorded history of the parish. In Hofkirchen, alongside the museum’s history of craftsmanship, you can also discover the history of the school and the parish.
You can choose what to explore based on your interests: the Saddlery Museum combines workshop visits, two craft professions, and an activity for children; the school and the parish history lead to other historical topics. The collection of objects from four centuries adds a distinct historical perspective to your museum visit. This can help you decide which of these aspects will be of particular interest during your stay in Hofkirchen im Traunkreis.
Discover more destinations: Eggendorf im Traunkreis, Pasching, Allhaming, Oftering, Wilhering, Kematen an der Krems, Piberbach, Kirchberg-Thening.
For the regional travel overview: Linz-Land.
