Freilichtmuseum Detmold (Open Air Museum) Christmas Advent

 The Freilichtmuseum Detmold is only open to the public the beginning of April through the end of October except for a three day event during Advent. I have been very excited for the right time to visit the museum, but we had no time in October and then it was too late. We didn't learn of this special event held every year until friends at the archive told  us about it. 

The museum is a spacious spot on top of a fairly substantial hill very close to our apartment with around 100 houses and other buildings from around the Lippe area which have been dismantled and rebuilt  on the hill to provide a way to experience life over the last 500 years from this area. It began in 1960 and was opened to the public in 1971.

The special Christmas Advent event was last weekend and we decided to buy tickets for the first day which was last Friday, December 6th, St. Nickolas day. We bought tickets online and found out that there were special buses that we could ride for free with our tickets so we thought we could figure it all out, maybe even walk. Well....we were very blessed to find one of the parking lots for the museum and basically parked our car and followed the crowd. 

The security people directed us to the bus stop and hopped on the bus with the others and it took us part way up the hill to the entrance.

Oh. . . did I mention that it rained all day? Muddy and wet we departed from the bus and made our way into the park. It is uphill all the way.  I wasn't sure I would make it, but the rain stopped about the time we made it to the entrance so we trudged on.

The first building we saw was this wonderful mill. 

Next we followed some lights to another little community which was interesting because there were loud speakers with forest sounds (appropriate because we were in an actual forested area) including the howling of wolves.

An old well

Lovely wood carved doors on this very tall building 

This little house had it's own moat...very small space to play in around this house! 

It began to rain again but I could never get enough of these beautiful half-timbered buildings. 

Even a couple of windmills on the property. I will am anxious to visit again in the spring when the museum opens with animals, fruit trees, carriage rides, etc. It will be a wonderful place to visit.

Although there were many little shacks selling various gift-type items, this is the only display of the true purpose of Christmas. I am so disappointed that this wood carved nativity is missing the baby Jesus. (Here in Germany they add a baby Jesus figure on Christmas Eve, when He is born)

It was cold, rainy, wet and muddy, but we had a good time and we were happy we went. We look forward to another visit!