Our main building, the Steinerbauernhaus, is an impressive structure with over 300 years of history. It is a wooden building in traditional log construction, which changed hands between private and church ownership over the course of time until it finally became the property of the municipality of Kaprun in 1995. Careful renovation work from 1995 to 2009 preserved the beauty of the listed building and brought it up to modern standards. A particular challenge here was raising and stabilising the south-eastern corner of the house, which had sunk in by approximately 60 cm over the years. Further measures included the restoration of the roof and roof truss, the excavation of a cellar, the replacement of dilapidated windows, damaged floors and wall panelling as well as the sealing of leaks. To ensure year-round operation, a modern heating system was installed, the electrical wiring renewed, and the fireplace carefully restored. This ensures the long-term preservation of this historic monument.
On 12th July 2009, we celebrated the grand opening of the “Museum am Kirchbichl”. Our permanent exhibition takes our visitors into the fascinating world of regional and local history, which they can literally taste. A free-standing baking oven awaits you in front of the house, which is operated by the Katschner bakery every Friday from spring to autumn – a tradition that we are proud to uphold. However, tradition and modernity are not mutually exclusive here. Several measures were recently implemented in 2022 and 2023 to drive forward digitalisation in the museum. New multimedia touch displays expand the exhibition and allow visitors to delve deeper into the topics presented. The VSF Kaprun, the association for the creation of special leisure facilities in Zell am See-Kaprun, which also operates the Sigmund Thun Gorge in Kaprun, has always been behind the operation of the museum. The economic success of the gorge, an attraction popular with holidaymakers and locals alike, enables the association to run the museum and return part of the income to the municipality of Kaprun. Funds are channelled into infrastructure projects and events in cooperation with the municipality of Kaprun and the Zell am See-Kaprun tourism association, as well as into supporting local associations..
