Museum of Agriculture and Crafts

The Trotte (timber-framed building) on the Dorfstrasse in Mellstorf is a place steeped in history in Studenland. The trotte was built in 1671 to press wine from the grapes harvested on the sunny slope. It was in operation until 1969. In the last phase, however, it no longer pressed wine, but cider from apples and pears. In 1978, the trotte, which characterises the Mellstorf townscape, was restored and placed under the protection of the Swiss Confederation. Village festivals are held on the ground floor. Cultural artefacts from the surrounding area are displayed on the upper floor. They are mainly from the fields of agriculture and crafts. The initiators want to preserve this collection for future generations and make it accessible to the public. The museum was officially opened on 1 August 2013.

The houses of Mellstorf are grouped around St Sebastian's Chapel and the trotte. The centrepiece of the small church is the rosary altar by the Kaiserstuhl artist Johann Friedrich Buol (1636 to 1700). The chapel was consecrated in 1789. Its patron saint is St Sebastian. The altar comes from the Schwarzwasserstelz castle, which was demolished in 1875 and stood on an island in the Rhine below Kaiserstuhl. Fortunately, the sale of the altar was prevented at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, the chapel is a listed building. If you would like to visit it, you can get the key from the sacristan Barbara Hagenbuch.

Opening Hours

By arrangement via telephone enquiry.