EXPERIENCES

Germany

Pile Dwelling Museum

The Prehistoric pile dwellings on the Lake Constance in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen, Germany is a fascinating archaeological site located near the Swiss-German border. The open-air museum chronicles the history of pile dwellings that were popular among ancient Europeans in areas around the Alps and Northern Europe. You can get an up close look at these unique structures and learn how they were built and used by our ancestors. This archaeological site has been carefully preserved to accurately represent how it looked centuries ago. The area is home to 111 submerged wooden structures, which have been preserved in pristine condition since prehistoric times thanks to its unique geographical location.

This impressive archaeological site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011 and receives thousands of visitors each year from all around the world. The dwellings were built on piles created with tree trunks, stones and branches that were set into the lake bed of Lake Constance at depths ranging from 1.5 m to 3 m below water level.

There is an observation tower near Lake Constance, offering stunning views of the surrounding area as well as a great vantage point for studying the architecture of the pile dwellings, an unprecedented opportunity for scientists.

Inside, you will find interactive exhibits and displays that explain how humans lived during this prehistoric period. Educational activities are available to help bring this era alive for young visitors.

Read what others share about their experience

  • Vishal
    6 months ago
    My visit to the Pile Dwelling Museum in Unteruhldingen was a fantastic experience. The museum is beautifully designed and the reconstructed dwellings are truly impressive. It's clear that a great deal of care and expertise went into bringing this historical settlement to life. Walking along the boardwalks and seeing the houses up close really makes...
  • Marc Stroobants
    6 months ago
    A fantastic and thoroughly researched reconstitution of lakeside pile dwellings dating back 4000 years and which seem to have been abandoned around 800 BC. Very interesting and well documented copies of original artifacts and information about the way of life, diet, clothing, funerary rites and known technologies of the times. The lake level used...
  • Jp Smeets
    7 months ago
    I'm a history nerd, so I was really engaged in showing my 4 (she says nearly 5) year old daughter the way our early early ancestors lived. The museum has an outdoor area, an indoor exebition and 2 short movies playing constantly. Outdoor you can visit several pole houses dating back +-3000years in time, but our guide told us, not all houses are...
  • Graham Barry
    5 months ago
    The new visitor center is great, using the latest tech to explain the history in a relatable and immersive way. The reconstructed houses are kept simple, with basic info panels and props to show how they were used. By the time you've done them all, it is getting repetitive. The one-way system didn't work because some doors were locked. There is no...
  • Irina Kanishcheva
    a year ago
    We visited on a weekday. Highly recommend to come close to the opening hour: it will allow you to look around without crowds. The tour starts with several virtual rooms, you can be explorers, who have found the remains of pile houses. After that you get a short information tour on the place and then you can go and explore by yourself. The staff is...

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