Steinhauermuseum Mühlbach

The Steinhauermuseum Mühlbach stands in the former town hall of Mühlbach, a district of Eppingen in the Heilbronn district. The building itself is a former council and schoolhouse made of local reed sandstone, completed in 1903. It reflects the peak period of the stonemason trade, when the craft shaped much of the region’s architecture. A doorway arch was uncovered during the museum’s creation, restoring part of the original structure. The sandstone used in the building comes from nearby quarries, linking it directly to the trade it now celebrates. The museum tells the story of stone extraction and shaping, from rough blocks in the quarry to finished pieces used in construction. A gallery hosts temporary exhibitions by stonemasons and young sculptors, while the village square outside serves as extra display space. Seminars and guided tours in local quarries let visitors see the craft in action. Though mechanisation has changed the trade, stonemasonry still survives in Mühlbach today. The exhibits include tools, finished works, and photographs tracing the craft’s development. Inside, the museum occupies rooms arranged to show different stages of the stonemason’s work. Visitors find displays of hammers, chisels, and measuring tools used over the decades. Photographs and documents illustrate how stone was cut, carved, and transported. Outside, the sandstone building and the village square create a setting that echoes the trade’s past. The museum keeps alive the skills and stories of those who shaped the region’s buildings.