For much of its history, Kaprun was a small village in the Alps and not a centre for tourism and sustainable energy production as it is today. Rather, village life was characterised by farms and agriculture. This part of the exhibition is dedicated to historical rural life with all its challenges. This is accentuated by a collection of historical objects which were commonplace at the time.
Many everyday activities that were essential for survival had to be done by hand. Historical tools bear witness to the strenuous work in the alpine landscape. Until well into the 20th century, motorised machines were not available to the farming population, therefore many helping hands were still needed. Thus, horse-drawn carts were the most important means of transport.
Another historically important activity for feeding the population was the cultivation of cereals. Today, there are no more significant cultivation areas in or around Kaprun. Therefore, we like to show what harvesting and further processing was like.
As our region is known for its dairy products, the traditions of cheesemaking and milk production play an important role in our presentation of rural life. The historical photographs give an insight into these traditional crafts, supported by equipment such as a butter churn or a specialised table for cheesemaking (Käsetisch).
Traditions and traditional costumes were also part of the everyday life of the population. In 2021 the Pinzgau festive costume has been designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. We show garments, hats and other accessories that are examples of the outstanding local craftsmanship.
In addition, visitors learn important facts about the historical linen production in the Pinzgau. Once, fabrics and clothing were almost exclusively produced locally. Today, this tradition is also no longer found in our region, which makes it all the more important for our house to present these realities and to remind us of the traditions of the not-too-distant past.
