Heath Museum in Wilsede

Visit the old heath village of Wilsede with its heath museum “Dat ole Huus” (The old house). Our trained guides will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Lüneburg Heath nature reserve.

Heath village Wilsede • Heath museum “Dat ole Huus” • Sheep shed on the Emhoff • “Naturspeicher” (Nature Granary) • Guided tours and more… • The “Emhoff” • Wilsede impressions

Wilsede – The heath village

In the heart of the nature reserve lies the old heath village of Wilsede. You could be forgiven for thinking that time has stood still here. With its thatched farmhouses, tall oaks and historic cobbled streets, the village gives an impression of how quiet rural life was 150 years ago. A visit to this little village is a “must” for every heath guest.

Nevertheless, we would like to ask you to be considerate: Wilsede is a living village! Many houses are privately owned and are therefore not open to visitors.

Wilsede can only be reached on foot, by bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage. Please park your car in one of the designated parking spaces on the periphery of the nature reserve.

Wilsede village centre: Museum shop and Milchhalle on the left, Heathland museum "Dat ole Huus" on the right | photo: Burmester Wilsede village centre: Museum shop and Milchhalle on the left, Heathland museum "Dat ole Huus" on the right | Photo: Christian Burmester — Wilsede village centre: Museum shop and Milchhalle on the left,
heathland museum “Dat ole Huus” on the right.
Photo: Christian Burmester

Horse carriages to Wilsede

Horse-drawn carriage with guests in Wilsede | photo: Burmester — Horse-drawn carriage with guests in Wilsede
Photo: Christian Burmester

Private car traffic is not permitted in the nature reserve. You can find operators of horse-drawn carriage rides to Wilsede here.

Houses of the VNP in Wilsede

Visit the Wilsede Milchhalle and enjoy regional specialities in the local “Heidjer” style.
Souvenirs and typical heath specialities such as honey and Heidschnucken products are available in our museum shop.

Overnight stays in Wilsede

The “Gasthaus Zum Heidemuseum” is located in the centre of Wilsede.

Heath museum “Dat ole Huus” in Wilsede

The Wilsede heathland museum “Dat ole Huus” is one of the oldest farmhouses in the Lüneburg Heath nature reserve and gives you a true-to-life insight into life and activities on a heath farm around 1850.

There is no chimney in this house. Cooking was done over an open hearth. People and cattle lived under one roof.

On a guided tour of the house, you will learn more about the origin of a number of well-known German sayings.

The entrance fee also includes a visit to the exhibition sheep shed on the Emhoff.

Entrance to the Heath museum "Dat ole Huus": The "Grootdör" (big door) | photo: Burmester — Entrance to the heath museum “Dat ole Huus”: The “Grootdör” (big door)
Photo: Christian Burmester

Heart of the house: the hearth
Photo: Christian Burmester

In the maids' chamber
Photo: Christian Burmester

Valuable marquetry work in the old farmers' parlour
Photo: Christian Burmester

How many people slept in the "Knechtsbutze" (farmhands' quarters) back then?
Photo: Christian Burmester

Opening hours

from 29th March 2024:
weekends and holidays 10 am to 5 pm
15th July – 15th October 2024:
daily from 10 am to 4 pm

Admission: 3.00 €
Children up to 16 years: free
Groups of 12 or more: 2.50 €

Contact

During the season:
Heath museum Wilsede
Phone: +49 4175 802933

During the off-season:
VNP office
Phone: +49 5198 982430
Email:

In Wilsede: Emhoff with exhibition sheep shed and nature granary | photo: Burmester — The exhibition sheep shed is also located on the grounds of the Emhoff.
Photo: Christian Burmester

Sheep shed at the Emhoff

Sheep have not lived in this shed for a long time. Instead, the VNP has used the building since 2004 as a space for changing exhibitions about the cultural landscape of Lüneburg Heath and its work.

The combined ticket with the Heath museum “Dat ole Huus” is valid for admission.

Interior view - Exhibition: "Of the field and its herbs" in the sheep shed of the VNP Heath museum Emhoff, Wilsede — Interior view – Exhibition: “Of the field and its herbs” in the sheep shed of the VNP Heath museum Emhoff, Wilsede

From the “Treppenspeicher” granary to the “Naturspeicher” (nature granary)

Bright pictures show you the habitat heath moor in our small “Naturspeicher”.

The fascinating diversity of animals and plants that have specialised and adapted to this special habitat is illustrated. Sundew and common snipe invite you to take a closer look and gain more than just the impression that it is “scary to walk across the moor”.

"Treppenspeicher" granary at the Emhoff in Wilsede | VNP Stiftung Julia Hallmann — “Treppenspeicher” granary at the Emhoff in Wilsede

Exhibition on the habitat " Heathland Moor" in the "Nature Granary" on the Emhoff in Wilsede — Bright pictures show the fascinating flora and fauna of heathland moor habitat.

At the same time, you will have the opportunity to take a look inside a historic Treppenspeicher granary and admire the high level of craftsmanship involved in the construction of such a building.

Admission is free!

The project “Naturspeicher Wilsede” was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in 2008.

Guided tours and more…

Why not let a professional guide accompany you to Wilsede? You will learn many interesting facts about the cultural landscape of Lüneburg Heath and get to know paths away from the hustle and bustle.

Would you like a guided tour of the heath museum “Dat ole Huus”?
Or a guided tour of the village of Wilsede with its numerous thatched buildings, most of which are listed?
Would you like to know more about the history of the Totengrund or the Wilseder Berg?

Our trained guides will be happy to help you and show you everything you ever wanted to know about the Lüneburg Heath nature reserve with its many special features!

Entrance to the Heathland museum "Dat ole Huus": The "Grootdör" (big door) | photo: Burmester — Wilsede guided tours start at the heath museum “Dat ole Huus”
Photo: Christian Burmester

Contact

Tour guide Wiebke Schwandt
Phone: +49 160 93790725

The “Emhoff”

The “Emhoff”, built in 1609 in Emmingen east of Soltau in pure timber construction, was rebuilt in 1964 at the initiative of Alfred Toepfer in Wilsede.

Since then it has been used for events.

It is owned by the VNP, currently leased to the inn “Zum Heidemuseum”.