Black Forest Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof

The Black Forest Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof in Gutach is the best-known open-air museum in the Black Forest and one of the most rewarding things to do in this part of southwest Germany. Historic farmhouses, mills and workshops were moved here from all over the region and rebuilt in the Kinzig Valley, so you can walk through real Black Forest homes and see how people lived and worked. It is an easy half-day trip from Offenburg by train.

Why it matters

The museum is named after the Vogtsbauernhof, a farmhouse built in 1612. It was saved from decay in the early 1960s, and in 1964 it became the first open-air museum in Baden-Württemberg. It welcomes around 230,000 visitors over a seven-month season. The big hipped roofs that reach almost to the ground are what most people picture when they think of a Black Forest farm, and here you can step inside and see the parlors, kitchens and bedrooms.

What to see

• Vogtsbauernhof (1612): the namesake farm and the heart of the site.
• Hippenseppenhof (1599): one of the oldest houses in the museum, moved from Furtwangen-Katzensteig.
• Schauinslandhaus: the only building you enter from the narrow side.
• The "Little Castle" from Effringen: about 600 years old and the museum's oldest building, opened here in 2018.
• Ortenauhaus (1775): a half-timbered winegrowers' house from Durbach, with an exhibition on wine and forest.

You will also find sawmills, a forge, an oil mill and craft demonstrations such as basket weaving. Plan 3 to 4 hours. Free public guided tours run daily in German; in July and August there is also an English tour at 1 p.m. A mobile app works as a digital guide.

Tickets and hours (as of October 2026)

The 2026 season runs from March 22 to November 1, daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last admission at 5 p.m. Adults pay 13 EUR, children and teens aged 6 to 17 pay 7 EUR. If you show a valid regional train or bus ticket, you pay 12 EUR and 5.50 EUR. The museum accepts the Museumspass and the SchwarzwaldCard. Outside the season it is closed, apart from a Christmas village in December. One building, the Hermann Schilli House, is closed in 2026 for construction.

Getting there

The museum has its own station, "Gutach Freilichtmuseum", on the Kinzig Valley line (RB 20) between Offenburg and Hornberg, served hourly during opening hours. Coming from farther away, take the Black Forest Railway (Offenburg to Konstanz) to Hausach and change to the local train or a bus. Driving, it sits right on the B 33 between Hausach and Gutach; parking costs 5 EUR per day, and there is an EV charger. Do not enter "Gutach" alone into your navigation: this is Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn), not Gutach im Breisgau.

Good to know

Paths are partly gravel and some historic buildings have steps and thresholds, so wheelchair access is limited; the museum publishes an accessibility overview. Leashed dogs are welcome for 0.50 EUR. Families will like the adventure playground. For food, there is a restaurant, a wine tavern and a kiosk, plus picnic tables.