World of Loden Museum

Who does not know it, the rough and resistant woollen fabric known as loden, which reminds a bit of felt? Even in the Middle Ages it was already highly valued as a robust material - milled and used as a woollen fabric, it was then somewhat more distinguished. The Old High German term "lodo" already described "rough woollen cloth" in the 10th century. Finally, Emperor Franz Joseph I, an enthusiastic supporter of loden clothing, made it socially acceptable in the 19th century.

Until recently, loden was uniformly olive green, grey-brown, mottled black or red-brown and was mostly used for hunting clothing and traditional costumes. Now the incomparable isolating, warming and weatherproof properties of the woollen fabric have been rediscovered and the corresponding clothing has been reinterpreted in contemporary colours and modern design. At the Vandoies World of Loden - "Lodenwelt Vintl" in German, "Mondo del Loden a Vandoies" in Italian -, the entire process is shown: the shearing of the sheep, the milling, combing and spinning of the wool, and its processing into a garment.

On the ground floor there is the exhibition area "Winter Fairy Tales", on the 1st floor the area "Loden Production". Historical tools can be seen in the World of Loden as well as the clothes made from them, which can also be purchased in the loden shop of the Oberrauch Zitt manufactory. Something special for little guests: Some sheep live in a small enclosure behind the building. Right next to it is the Dairy Adventure World Capriz, which, on the other hand, is dedicated to goats. And how to reach the Vandoies World of Loden? Turn off the main road at Vandoies di Sopra, then follow the signs. The Val Pusteria bus line 401 also stops there.