Town in the Middle Ages. Life in the old Attendorn
Through great movies like recently "The Medicus" by Noah Gordon an idea of life in the Middle Ages is given. But what was it like here in the Sauerland, in Attendorn? Attendorn has had town rights since 1222. What was special about it and who lived in the town? Which special buildings were there here and how has the town changed until today? Was it really as dirty and dreary as it is portrayed in many Hollywood movies? During a walk through the collection of the Südsauerlandmuseum, various exhibits are presented that illustrate work and everyday life in the Middle Ages. Comparative material and practical work illustrate the topic for children and adults alike.
Knights and castles in Sauerland
Which castles are there in the Sauerland, when were they built, what functions did they have and what was everyday life like at the castle? With the change of political structures and the loss of the military function from the early modern times on, the castles lost their importance. Many were abandoned and are today only preserved as ruins, some were converted. During a walk through the collection, castle models, weapons and everyday tableware, especially from the castles of Waldenburg and Burg Schnellenberg, illustrate life in a castle.
Reading and writing, today and in the past
The guided tour takes us from modern media, which we use today for reading and writing, to the Middle Ages. Various materials such as papyrus, parchment, writing tablets, etc. are presented, which were used to produce books in antiquity and the Middle Ages. During a walk through the museum, various works of art can be discovered, showing readers and writers from different centuries, as well as early modern cradle prints, document texts or leather-bound books from the Baroque period. Questions are answered such as: Who could read in the Middle Ages? Where were books kept? How long did it take to produce a book? When were the first books printed? And much more.
"Well protected" - headgear in the past and today
There are a wide variety of head coverings: Some are worn only by men, some only by women. Some headgear has a protective function, some is a sign of a religious or professional position. Starting with modern headgear, we will take a walk through the collection of the Südsauerlandmuseum in search of historical headgear and learn a lot about its function and the significance of the wearers.
Welcome to the Ice Age (guided tour for children and families)
When was the last ice age and what did it mean for humans and animals? What was life like 40,000 years ago in the Sauerland and what strategies and inventions helped people survive in the cold climate and prevail against cave bears, mammoths and saber-toothed tigers?
Signs and symbols
Signs and symbols surround us in our everyday lives: company logos, traffic signs, toilet signs, escape routes and much more we put into context and understand. A fast, scriptless communication, which was much more pronounced in the Middle Ages than today, because at that time only a few people could read and write texts. However, people were skilled in reading pictures. Thus, contents were reproduced by signs and symbols: Gestures, clothing, objects and colors on paintings, sculptures and handicrafts still reveal their meaning and function today. To learn about this, during the guided tour, participants blindly pull various objects from a basket. The respective persons consider to which exhibit the object could belong. Afterwards, it is discussed what can be recognized and "read" in the work of art.
(Text: Südsauerlandmuseum)