Students discover the Middle Ages: Fascinating excursion to the Bärnau History Park!

Students discover the Middle Ages: Fascinating excursion to the Bärnau History Park!

On May 23, 2025, students from the Markus Gottwalt School Eschenbach (MGS) and the partner school from Eger (Cheb) met in the Bärnau-Tachov History Park, which is located on the Bavarian-Czech border. This visit was all about an eventful trip into the past. The Bärnau History Park is a living open-air museum and shows a reconstructed medieval village spanning the period from the 9th to the 13th century. All buildings in the park were constructed using authentic tools and historical methods, giving the students an authentic picture of the Middle Ages.

In the historical park, people live for a limited time as if they were in the Middle Ages. They dress in historical costumes and cook on an open fire. During the excursion, participants had the opportunity to actively participate in the events. The activities included, among other things, baking stick bread and archery. The students communicated in mixed groups in German, Czech and non-verbally, which promoted intercultural exchange and brought international understanding to life. The trip was described by the participants as impressive and memorable.

Diverse offerings in the history park

The Bärnau History Park is not only a place for learning, but also a hands-on museum that reflects an authentic picture of the Middle Ages. The facility is constantly growing: visitors can watch the construction of more houses and actively participate in numerous events and courses. In addition to archery and bread baking, the program also includes clay work. Volunteer performers from Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic enlivened the museum during the action days.

For visitors, the history park offers an audio guide that is included in the entrance fee, while group tours can be booked separately. In order to give guests a pleasant break, the museum restaurant Brot&Zeit is available, where visitors can fortify themselves. E-bikers in the history park also have the opportunity to charge their batteries free of charge.

An important role in cultural communication

Open-air museums, such as the Bärnau-Tachov History Park, play a central role in the preservation and research of regional architectural and cultural monuments. They present historical settlement, building, housing and economic forms in their original form. This form of cultural mediation has a history going back over 100 years and offers a diverse range of tasks. Open-air museums are active in the leisure market, tourism and regional development and offer educational opportunities for both young people and adults.

The open-air museum specialist group in the German Museum Association promotes exchange between institutions and organizes regular specialist conferences with a high level of practical relevance. The cultural and socio-political significance of these museums in Germany is thus continuously communicated, which underlines their attractiveness and relevance in today's world. Further information about the Bärnau History Park is available on the official website: Discover Bärnau, and provides information about the general importance of open-air museums German Museum Association.