Folklore Museum in Schönberg
The Folklore Museum in Schönberg is the museum for folklore of the Schönberger Land. As the Principality of Ratzeburg and a remote exclave of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz region, the area developed a strong cultural independence. This lasted until the reunification of the two Mecklenburgs in 1934.
The museum has two locations; since 1931 the local history museum in the town of Schönberg (Mecklenburg) at the Laurentiuskirche and since 1972 the Bechelsdorfer Schulzenhof as an open-air facility .
Folklore Museum of the Ratzeburg Land
The local history museum was created as a folklore museum of the Ratzeburg region from the collection of the antiquity association for the Principality of Ratzeburg, which was started in 1903. The development of the collection and museum is closely linked to the person of the teacher Fritz Buddin (1867–1946). The building at An der Kirche 8/9, from 1747 initially the location of the Küsterschule, from 1846 to 1929 girls' school, housed the collection compiled by Buddin as a local museum in 1931. The reunification of the two parts of Mecklenburg in 1934 supported the regional need for an independent documentation of the cultural identity of the former principality of Ratzeburg as part of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. ⊙
In 2017 the museum moved to the renovated Koch'sche Haus on Markt 1 and has better (barrier-free) rooms. The permanent exhibition entitled “Between the Bishop's Chair and the Home Movement” has met with good to very good feedback. ⊙
Bechelsdorfer Schulzenhof open-air facility
The open-air facility on the outskirts of Schönberg was created in 1962 through the implementation and reconstruction of the Schulzenhaus from 1525 and the associated barn. The original location in Bechelsdorf is now part of Siemz-Niendorf . Both half-timbered buildings are covered with thatch. The ensemble was supplemented in 2004 by the reconstruction of a bakery. The relevant agricultural equipment is also shown on the site. ⊙
Both institutions have been operated jointly since 2004 by a private association that took them over from the city of Schönberg. Medium-sized companies in the region are also members of the development association.
Map with all coordinates: