Museum in the Ballhaus Imst

However, the Ballhaus is not, as one might assume, a place for exuberant dance festivities, but rather a warehouse for bales of goods. In the history- and tradition-conscious city of Imst, the Ballhaus was deliberately chosen as a location for a museum dedicated to the history of the city and the region. Already in the last century, the Ballhaus served as a local history museum. After extensive renovation and restoration work, the new museum in the Ballhaus was opened in 2003, which now houses practically the entire extensive collection of the city of Imst. All these 'treasures' are presented in a very appealing and modern way, offering a vivid picture of the history of the city and the people who lived here. The arc spans from the beginnings of settlement in the Bronze Age with finds from the Urnfield culture to the rise in the Middle Ages and the granting of market rights in 1282, up to the present day.

Artworks, archaeological finds, and everyday objects equally form the traces that lead through this journey through time. Highlights include the rule of the Starkenberger and the guild system in the Middle Ages, as well as the lead and zinc mining in the nearby Gurgltal, which provided prosperity especially in the 16th century. In the Baroque period, Imst was an important art center, later the textile industry became significant. A 'chapter' of the exhibition is also dedicated to the famous Imster bird traders, as well as the development of tourism. With the help of new media, one can also take a virtual tour of the city. Among the greatest treasures of the museum is the magnificent baroque Ursuline crib with 239 figures in precious robes, which is on display at Christmas time along with many other artful cribs.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the Museum im Ballhaus regularly hosts special exhibitions that are primarily dedicated to the creative work of local artists.

The Museum im Ballhaus is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.