Kammerhof Museum Bad Aussee

Welcome to the Kammerhof Museum in the centre of Bad Aussee. We invite you to accompany us on a journey through time that will take you through the history of this region. You will find out more about the lives of the people who mined salt in Hallstatt back in prehistoric times and dug the mines in the Altaussee salt mine during Roman rule. The achievements of Archduke Johann also feature at some of the stations on this short journey. His wartime experiences, his initiatives to modernise the backward Styrian industry and agriculture, and not least, his marriage to the Aussee postmaster’s daughter are an important part of this exhibition. Later on our tour, the museum’s cinema invites you to relax with its large selection of entertaining film clips. The nativity scene with figures in traditional costume created by the dollmaker Lilli Baitz marks the start of the exhibition on the craft of traditional costume-making. Here we present the Aussee G’wand, the local traditional dress, and how it is made. We will whisk you away to the world of the Aussee dirndl and the decorative seams of the Aussee lederhosen, waistcoats and spencers. You will find out what Aussee Tatscher are and how a local is completely attired only with the right jewellery and the Aussee hat. Are you curious to find out what it’s like inside a traditional Aussee house? Our fascinating models and images will lead you through the history of construction in the Ausseerland and allow you to see the architecture of our beautiful region with new eyes. On the second floor, you will encounter life-size figures from local myths and traditions: Krampussen, Berigln, drumming women and Flinserln. They are joined by representations of members of our marksmen’s society. Their authentic costumes, together with original musical accompaniment, allow you to experience traditional Aussee customs throughout the course of the year. A large part of our valuable collection of historical costumes comes from Konrad Mautner’s collection, which was seized in 1938. Some of the exhibits have been selected for display to provide insights into the development of traditional dress and how it differed depending on social status. Folk music can look back on a long tradition in the Salzkammergut. In the Ausseerland, this music has been preserved in a distinctive form. With a host of audio samples, we present all the styles of music-making and singing that have been practised in the Ausseerland since time immemorial. One of our special attractions is the interactive Paschstation, where you can learn to clap the complicated rhythms of Paschen. We don’t want to promise too much, but this station is surely our most enjoyable. There is also plenty to interest geology fans. We’ve put together a fine collection of fossils for them in our geology department – it is an El Dorado for fossil lovers.

In our speleology section, you will find yourself in the world of caves, giant cave bears and their accompanying fauna – an impressive view of the Totes Gebirge mountain range in the time before the last ice age! Back then, Neanderthals also sought out the caves. By the time the ice had retreated, both the cave bears and our ancient human relatives had long since died out.

This tour is available in German and English. Let our app lead you on your tour of exploration through the museum. Enjoy your visit!