Markus Wasmeier's open-air museum has always been designed to grow.
Like a village.
And stay overnight in a village.
On a very small scale, this should also be possible with the Wasi in the future, but the municipal council is skeptical.
Schliersee – Outside the landscape with all its leisure opportunities, Markus Wasmeier's open-air museum is the ultimate attraction in Schliersee.
Hardly anyone on the council disputes that.
From the beginning, however, there were points of friction between the ex-ski racer and the committee.
Most prominent: the left-turn lane, which has only just been built.
But storage areas at the entrance to the Dr.-Brodfuhrer-Weg, a popular hiking trail, also caused resentment.
The growing needs are now to be taken into account by means of a development plan change.
Architect Johannes Wegmann presented the plan, but the municipal council will only make a decision at the next meeting.
Then Wasmeier should ideally explain his plans himself.
Wasmeier wants year-round operation - also because of its employees
"I'll definitely do that," says the 58-year-old when asked.
It would have been nice to have the meeting on Tuesday evening, but a private commitment intervened at short notice.
He would have reported to the municipal council that he was concerned with securing the museum's long-term existence.
"The problem is seasonal operation," says Wasmeier.
In normal years, the museum is open for seven months - plus a two-week Christmas market.
In the Corona years it was only four and five months.
A difficult time, especially since events such as weddings also declined significantly.
Without them, the operation cannot be financed.
Wasmeier does not receive any state support, and the maintenance of the 19 buildings on the site costs a lot of money.
The shingle roofs, for example, have to be replaced every five to six years.
In the long term, Wasmeier envisages year-round operation.
"I also have to keep my employees on task." With over 90 during the season, Wasmeier is one of the really big employers in Schliersee.
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Markus Wasmeier
© Thomas Plettenberg
Overnight stays would only take place to a very limited extent
In order to keep at least the permanent tribe busy in winter, the opportunity to offer overnight stays would come in handy.
However, the number of beds will be “very, very small”.
"There will be no whole wedding parties staying overnight," says Wasmeier.
At the moment he is assuming more of small groups in the single-digit range.
Ultimately, this depends on the future buildings.
"I don't know what's coming." Ultimately, however, the municipal council can have a say with each individual in the course of the building permit, also with regard to use.
The municipal council hesitates and invites Wasmeier to the next meeting
Mayor Franz Schnitzenbaumer (CSU) also pointed this out in the municipal council.
There were reservations in the committee.
Max (Die Schlierseer) and Astrid Leitner (CSU) as well as Jürgen Höltschl completely rejected an overnight stay, Leonhard Markhauser and Florian Zeindl (both CSU) was too vague, which should be recorded as a fundamental possibility in the development plan - namely a "subordinate overnight stay with constantly changing occupancy".
At the request of Florian Reinthaler (CSU), further processing was finally postponed to the next meeting at the end of May.
As further changes, Wegmann named, for example, the new parking lot arrangement and somewhat larger and additional construction windows, also for storage and a new courtyard.
Berghof from the 17th century could move to the museum
For Johannes Wegmann, that would be a "sensation": Markus Wasmeier's open-air museum could get a new or "very, very old courtyard from the 17th century" (Wegmann).
He did not want to reveal any further details.
Wasmeier confirms that there is talk of transferring a Berghof in the district to the museum.
The impetus for this came from Christian Boiger, head of the monument protection department at the district office.
The building could be situated to the west of the hills behind which the actual village lies.
The courtyard would thus be clearly visible from the main road.
However, a number of questions still need to be clarified, Wasmeier continued.
This includes, among other things, the use, but above all the financing of dismantling and reconstruction.
