Museen in Schloss Stainz: Jagdmuseum, Landwirtschaftsmuseum und Erzherzog Johann Museum — Attraction in Stainz

A nice little gem. Off the beaten path, yet not that far from Graz. The museums specialize in local hunting and farming history, so don't expect trophies of lions and tigers. But what they have is presented with taste and imagination, with some impressive installations - like several stuffed foxes arranged to show the stages of a jump on prey, or the room with over 120 specimens where an animal call is played and then a spotlight shines on the animal itself. Or the room where you can see track casts of a bird or animal and then read the description and touch the feathers or fur. Of course, they have a decent collection of old firearms, hunting accessories and other hunting-related items (like a chair with deer antlers instead of legs and armrests). The agriculture museum is more modest, but it does contain a room that shows how local produce finds its way into everyday products (some of which may surprise you). Also scale models of agricultural mechanization through the centuries. The staff are super-friendly and helpful, and speak several languages. Ask them about the soap-opera-worthy story of the most famous owner of the castle (in May 2024 they will open a dedicated exhibition about him); about the Prince that loved his hunting dogs so much (much more than his human servants) that he paid to have every single one of them immortalized in large paintings (on loan from other collections). Oh, and why a hunting gun may need a chimney; or how many times one had to pump for a single shot from an antique air gun (that rivaled early black powder arms in terms of firepower)! Just note that the museums are closed on Mondays and from December through March (learned that the hard way the first time I tried to visit). Come for the museums, stay for the hiking - several designated hiking paths seem to be...

We went there mainly because we wanted to see the castle building itself. There's no castle tour but two museums inside - the Jagdmuseum (dedicated to hunting) and the Landwirtschaftsmuseum (dedicated to farming). Both museums are excellent and have well thought out displays and descriptions. For example, there's a room full of stuffed animals and every 20 seconds or so, you can hear the sounds of a different animal and you can guess, which animal it was. A spotlight then illuminates the correct animal.

The building itself is still beautiful and renovated well, the rooms still have the stucco on the ceilings - and there's also a great church connected to it that is well worth the visit.

We enjoyed our trip there, both for what was visible of castle and church, as well as for the museums. There were plenty of car parking...

Decided to visit the museum with my two-year-old daughter, and was turned away by very rude staff. The reason being is that I had a stroller. I cannot for the life of me imagine in 2024 a place like this has such an archaic rule. And no desire to make an exception. What is the point of a museum if those who most need to visit it are not allowed to enter. I have never been to a museum that is not wheelchair accessible or family friendly.

The staff was entirely unwilling to work with us, and suggested I just carry her. When asked how a child constrained in a stroller is way worse than a child running around a museum. They...