Erdstallmuseum am Kapellenberg Althöflein

Useful Information

Location:	Kapellenberg Althöflein, 2143 Großkrut. (48.636764, 16.745562)
Open:	MAR to NOV 3rd WE of month Sat, Sun 15. [2025]
Fee:	Erwachsene EUR 4, Kinder EUR 2. [2025]
Classification:
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Erdstallmuseum am Kapellenberg Althöflein, Tel: +43-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

23-SEP-2007

Erdstallmuseum opened to the public.

Description

The name Erdstallmuseum am Kapellenberg Althöflein is quite long, and actually it’s not the name at all, the museum is just called Erdstallmuseum. As there is currently no second museum on this topic, the risk of confusion is currently low. However, this was probably too dangerous for the creators, and they added the location on the Kapellenberg in Althöflein to the name, a very common tactic. However, the name is too long and complicated, so it is often shortcut the Erdstallmuseum am Kapellenberg or the Erdstallmuseum Althöflein.

The location of the museum has a background, in the Kapellenberg there are Erdstalls with a total corridor length of 270 metres. They are located on several levels which are connected by vertical shafts. This is generally described as the largest contiguous Erdstall complex in Europe. However, other sources speak of four earth barns. The earth barn is part of the museum and can be visited during the opening hours of the earth barn museum. Of course, only if you are not claustrophobic, earth barns are quite narrow, and you can rarely stand upright.

Althöflein is a district of Großkrut and is located in a wine-growing region, the Weinviertel. Over the course of time, many wine cellars have been dug, and as the area is rather flat, the wine cellars are concentrated on the few hills. The Kapellenberg lies on the edge of the village and is so named because it has a chapel at its highest point. During the construction of the wine cellars, small artificial cavities were repeatedly cut, the origin of which the locals could not explain. These entrances are also not the original entrances, which were probably filled in at some point. The museum is located in one of these former wine cellars.