National Open-air Museum, Folk architecture museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.
The National Open-air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm comprises three distinct areas: Little Wooden Town, Wallachian Village, and Water Mill Valley, each displaying rural architecture and traditions. These sections show different aspects of village life through carefully reconstructed buildings and structures.
The museum opened in 1925 when the Jaroněk brothers, inspired by Stockholm's Skansen, began establishing exhibits of Wallachian structures. This early effort helped preserve knowledge about regional building techniques and rural lifeways.
The site displays traditional crafts and rural ways of life through working demonstrations in reconstructed workshops. Local sheep breeds and heritage crop varieties shape daily activities here, connecting historical practices with the present.
The grounds are quite large and walking shoes are recommended for exploring the different areas and outdoor paths. Visitors should plan for adequate time since each section offers multiple buildings and details to discover.
The Water Mill Valley section displays functional water-powered machinery from Velké Karlovice, showing how technology was used in village craft operations. These machines remain operational today and demonstrate genuine industrial processes from the past.
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