Österreichisches Forstmuseum Silvanum

The Forstmuseum Silvanum stands in Großreifling, a village in the Steiermark region, beside the river Enns. It occupies the Neuer Kasten, a storehouse built in 1711 for the Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft. The building once held iron and timber for the local ironworks before becoming a museum. Adolf Grabner started the collection in nearby Wildalpen in 1966, moving it to this larger space in 1979. The museum now belongs to Österreichische Bundesforste and is run by a local association. The exhibition shows how timber was cut, hauled and processed over centuries. Tools, photographs and documents illustrate the daily life of forest workers. Visitors see saws, axes and logging chains used in the Alps. A section explains the work of the Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft, which once managed forests and ironworks together. The museum received the Austrian Museum Quality Seal for 2014–2019. Inside, the Neuer Kasten’s original wooden beams frame displays on three floors. A lift connects the levels for easier access. Outside, the Enns valley provides a quiet backdrop of meadows and hills. The village church and old farmhouses stand nearby, adding to the rural setting. The museum offers a clear picture of forestry’s role in the region’s history.