Discover Molfsee: Open-Air Museum and Nature

The Molfsee Open-Air Museum brings the history of everyday rural life and culture in Schleswig-Holstein to life. Historical farmhouses, cottages, barns and rural craft workshops stand across around 40 hectares. They are furnished with furniture, household items and tools. The museum groups historic buildings by their regions of origin; this layout makes differences in architecture, domestic culture, agriculture and rural crafts visible.

Notable features of the site include a steam-powered dairy and three windmills. In the wider Rendsburg-Eckernförde destination, the Molfsee Open-Air Museum also offers a historic fairground with two carousels, a swing boat and a high striker, as well as a large playground. The different locations and exhibits give your visit a tangible focus: from living and working in the countryside to the technical and architectural differences between the regions of origin.

Experience culture and plan your visit

The Kulturkate Molfsee hosts four to six cultural evenings each year in the smokehouse next to the open-air museum. The programme and dates change. The museum also offers bookable guided tours and workshops; availability and programme details may vary. If you have a particular activity in mind, check in advance.

There is an important distinction when it comes to accessibility: the Jahr100Haus is largely accessible, while access to the open-air grounds and historic buildings is limited. Check the accessibility information before you arrive so you can plan your visit accordingly.

Nature and trails in the destination

The open-air museum is located on the eastern edge of Westensee Nature Park. The nature park is characterised by numerous lake complexes in the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands; it includes the approximately seven-square-kilometre Westensee, a popular day-trip destination. Alongside the focus on cultural history, this also brings the landscapes and nature experiences of the wider destination into view.

The Eidertal is a cultural landscape shaped by the Ice Age. Around 350 hectares of land there are maintained through extensive grazing. Konik horses and Heck cattle can be observed from the Eidertal hiking trail. The trail is suitable for off-road bicycles and features information boards, benches and shelters. Bus services and the Flintbek and Bordesholm railway stations provide public transport access to the Eidertal hiking trail; check connections and timetables before your trip.

More to explore in Rendsburg-Eckernförde

The wider Rendsburg-Eckernförde destination extends beyond Molfsee’s landscapes: the district has 55 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline, a 1,000-kilometre signed cycling network and four nature parks. This offers different ways to plan your trip: you can combine cultural history with days in nature or cycling, or focus on the coast.

When choosing accommodation, it helps to set a clear priority: should the open-air museum be the main focus of your stay, or would you also like to set aside time for the Eidertal’s landscapes and cycling? Base your search on the places you actually want to visit. For the Eidertal hiking trail, check public transport connections and timetables separately.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Emkendorf, Brügge, Holtsee, Krummwisch, Hohenwestedt, Brodersby, Blumenthal, Langwedel.

Back to the main travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.