Restoring historic farmhouses – Markus Wasmeier’s work at Lake Schliersee
After finishing his sports career, Markus Wasmeier became involved in several projects. Yet, living back in his hometown he became more and more surprised by how little young people today know about life in the past. Soon, he decided to found a museum, which would give an insight into Bavarian peasant life as it was, thereby preserving old traditions by communicating them to coming generations.
The goal of the museum is to restore old farmhouses (the oldest date back to the 16th century) and maintain them in the old ways – from cooking to woodworks and other handicrafts to brewing beer. The museum village also includes rare plants and animals. In order to prevent them from destruction, carefully selected farmhouses are deconstructed and moved from their original location and re-built on the museum grounds. The process includes documenting the original way the house was built – ranging from stones and wood to paint and ornaments. Every little detail is documented and catalogued and when rebuilt, the techniques and materials used are as close to the original as possible. This is particularly tricky with respect to the interior decoration and furniture.
The museum also includes a winter sports section since Schliersee was one of the first areas for skiing. It exhibits historical winter sports equipment and tells of the region as well as of the development of sports over the last 100 years. Of course, you will also find a few of Markus Wasmeier’s Olympic skies.
The museum is not primarily a place where people come to have a look at old artifacts. Instead, they can participate in the historic way of life and immerse themselves for a few hours in the peasant life of a few centuries ago. This is particularly impressive for children, who can discover the farmhouses, old kitchens, the way in which butter is produced or play with the animals outside. Moreover, the museum also depicts the development of energy and electricity in the region in a beautiful exhibition.
http://wasmeier.de/