Rohrerhof in the Sarn Valley

At times, over 20 maids and farmhands are said to have worked on the farm, and the generous living quarters also testify to the wealth that was generated here. In the Maria Theresian Cadastre of 1775, a count and valuation of all houses, farms, and mills in the Sarntal valley, the Rohrerhof was ranked second in estimated value among 234 farms. In total, only four families lived and worked on the Rohrerhof over more than 700 years, each through several generations; most recently, since 1850, the Gruber family. Florian Gruber eventually sold the farm to the municipality of Sarnthein in 2002.

In the following years, the Rohrerhof underwent fundamental restoration and renovation, with the main focus on preserving the typical character of this Sarntal farm. The architecture is simple and functional, but at the same time also has beauty and dignity. The building materials – wood and stone – come from nature, indeed mostly from the farm's own land. The successful restoration is also proof of the traditional and still highly vibrant and skillful craftsmanship in South Tyrol.

In 2007, the Rohrerhaus was opened as a museum and has since been open to the public. The Rohrerhaus is not just a classic, static museum, but rather a place of encounter, exchange, and – very typical for the Sarntal – a joyfully lived folk culture. During a tour of the premises, visitors gain deep insight into the rural life in the 'good old days'. The parlor, kitchen, and chambers are furnished exactly as they were back then, making it possible to imagine everyday life on the farm. The simple, yet extremely homely character of the rooms also conveys an impression of the relationship of the people who lived here to their farm and the valley. In the soot-blackened kitchen, sourdough is still kneaded into bread on certain days and subsequently baked in the bakehouse!

Of course, many other events also take place at the Rohrerhaus. All kinds of events are possible here: concerts, exhibitions, lectures, readings, and seminars. Local crafts, such as the Sarntal quill embroidery, are also displayed.