Local Museum Absam

Besides the Carnival Museum Absam, which is dedicated to the local Carnival tradition of the Matschgerer, Absam offers also another interesting museum: the Local Museum Absam, located in the ancient walls of the Kirchenwirt tavern in the centre of the pilgrimage site.

The museum (Gemeindemuseum Absam) is mostly dedicated to the famous violinmaker Jakob Stainer (1619-1683). The son of a miner lived and worked in Absam, his violins have been highly esteemed by musicians and museums worldwide. Stainer received his education in Italy, probably in Venice. In our days only very few of his violins still exist, so it is really exceptional that this little museum exhibits one of his self-built exemplars. Only the Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck is in possession of a complete quintet of the famous master violinmaker.

The Local Museum Absam tells also about the living and social conditions in the area, for instance about the work in the salt mountain of Absam in the 19th century. Additionally special exhibitions take place regularly, as well as installations or readings. Popular are the special guided tours: The topic of the guided tour (30 minutes) is determined through dice...