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Explore the wooden stilt houses of the pile dwellers, where you will learn everything you need to know about the life 6,000 and 3,000 years ago: See how people built their dwellings into the lake. Understand how the piles were worked and how modern day archaeologists were able to rebuilt these enigmatic buildings from the Stone and Bronze Ages. Become enchanted by the World Heritage of the pile dwellings!
The fascinating new building shows the traces of the underwater remains that still exist today – and provides information about the lives of people in the Stone and Bronze Ages. The gallery on the upper floor shows an exhibition on the mysteries of the pile dwellers, spanning 170 years of research. Original finds, several interactive media stations and the 3D-show ARCHAEORAMA prepare the visitor for the real attraction of the pile dwellings on Lake Constance.
The multimedia 3D-show ARCHAEORAMA takes you to the underwater UNESCO World Heritage of the pile dwellings, which is invisible from land. In a 360-degree panoramic cinema, visitors are given fascinating insights into the otherwise hidden world of Lake Constance. Among other things, you can see a virtual pile field and the methods used by archaeologists to uncover the sunken treasures of the pile dwellers. The ARCHAEORAMA is available in English and French.
The reconstructed pile dwellings in our open air museum provide an insight into ancient times. Stone Age living areas, workshops, stables with pets, pictures of life, but also the ideas of the afterlife during the Late Bronze Age can be experienced. With at total of 23 pile dwellings, belonging to 3 authentically recreated villages and two time periods, spanning over more than 3,000 years of human (pre-)history, there is a lot to see – both on water and on land!
Aside from the 3D-show ARCHAEORAMA, a wide-screened information station at ground level as well as several touchscreens faciliate the understanding of Europe’s prehistory. But there is more: using a common smartphone device and our state-of-the-art NFC technology, you can translate any written information given inside the NEW MUSEUM.
Your visit starts inside our “New Museum” at the shores of Lake Constance. The impressive wooden structure is both a visitor center and an exhibition hall. You can design your own route or book a guided tour in English or French. The ARCHAEORAMA-3D-Show is available in both English and French: Experience the lost heritage of the pile dwellers deep inside Lake Constance – without getting wet! Outside the ARCHAEORAMA, a well-marked tour takes you to the pile dwellings with lots of information in words, writing and pictures. There is also a lot to see on land. A special highlight are the two restored pile dwellings from 1922, where you can learn more about the beginnings of the museum.
A total of 111 sites with pile dwellings in six European countries became UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2011, including nine sites from Lake Constance. We will show you examples of the results of the excavations from the sites of Hornstaad (3,900 BC), Sipplingen (3,300 BC) and Unteruhldingen (900 BC). The absence of oxygen in the muddy layers of the lake has provided unique opportunities for the reconstruction of early European life. We share these insights with you.
Guided tours are available in English or French for groups of 15 to 35 people (adults: 20 to 35 people). A booking is required. Please contact us using the link below.
Lakeside, water, a mild breeze, waves, soft clouds, swaying reeds and a scenic forest:
In the Pile Dwellings of Unteruhldingen you will experience a unique landscape with all your senses.
Enjoy the play of the elements
and take a piece of history into the present.
Whether stroller, wheelchair or walking aid – the museum is designed to be largely barrier-free. Ramps, footbridges and extended entrances make your tour easier. If some doors are too narrow and make passage difficult, diversions are signposted. Our employees will be happy to provide further information. For its barrier-free access, the pile dwelling museum has received the Inclusion Plus Award in 2022.
For more information, please go here.
Is the museum open?
Our current opening hours can be found here.
Are there any parking spaces next to the museum?
Parking next to the museum is only permitted in a few parking spaces for the disabled. An appropriate identification is needed. There are special entry permits for vehicles carrying people with walking disabilities. The municipality provides sufficient parking spaces in the parking lots P1 (Ehbachstraße) and P2 (near the sports field). There are no public parking spaces within the town. For more information go here.
Can dogs visit the museum too?
As long as they are kept on a leash, dogs are allowed within the boundaries of our open air installations. Inside the exhibition hall as well as the indoor preshow ARCHAEORAMA, dogs are not allowed.
Can I register a group?
Yes, you can register a group by phone 07556 928900 or by mail mail@pfahlbauten.de. Please note, that if you wish for a guided tour in a non-german language like English or French, you need to go here.
Is it possible to pay with card?
Yes, we accept both cash and card payments.
Tour groups find cheap travel options at any time of the year. Your own bus can be parked in the local parking lots. The “Seelinie” bus service line 7395 stops every 15 minutes at the “Meersburger Straße” bus stop near the museum. There is a train station in Oberuhldingen. Ships and the “Erlebnisbus” run from March to October. Special entrances to the town for people with walking difficulties are possible, but must be registered in advance.
For more information, please go here.
