Gutau Dyeing Museum

The historic Dyeing House provides visitors with insights into the history of the dyeing industry and the technical processes involved.

Textile dyeing has been a major industry in Mühlviertel since the 17th century, with which the local flax cultivation and the numerous in-house linen weaveries had close links. The Dyeing House at Gutau is one of the most noticeable plants of this once thriving industry. The rural Baroque structure dates back to the 17th century and linen was dyed here until 1968. The foundations of the building are from the 14th century. Among its most striking architectonic features is the hip roof that covers the drying area and was ventilated by a wooden gallery.

A visit to the Museum highlights the use of dyeing across Mühlviertel and explores the variety of techniques used and the diversity of results achieved.

Acid needed for the dyeing process was stored in earthenware vessels in the Dyeing Chamber. The dyes were stored in drawers.

At the Kettle Room you´ll see a draw well and the original copper kettles where wool and other fabrics were dyed boiling hot.

The Mangle Room has various cloths on display and shows the process of linen printing. The large wooden mangle machine weighs 12 tons and was used for pressing the linen fabrics by means of heated rollers to obtain a silky finish.

On the upper story you can admire wonderful moulds as well as personal memorabilia of the master craftsmen.